Northeastern Pennsylvania -
A new report from WalletHub ranks Pennsylvania in the Top 10 'Best States to Live'. The state earned especially high marks for “Quality of Life” and “Safety. This comes after Consumer Affairs recognized Pennsylvania as one of the Top 3 states in the nation to 'Raise a Family in 2025' earlier this year.
WalletHub’s study evaluated all 50 states across 51 indicators of livability, including affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety.
Shapiro has worked to make Pennsylvania the best state possible, securing historic investments in K-12 public education, supporting law enforcement, cutting taxes, and growing the Commonwealth’s economy.
Cutting taxes, reducing costs
Shapiro has cut taxes more than six times over his first two years in office and worked to reduce costs for Pennsylvanians, including by:
• Expanding the Property Tax Rent Rebate program for the first time in nearly two decades, passing the largest tax cut for seniors in nearly two decades and expanding those tax cuts to over 160,000 additional seniors.
• Cutting taxes for small businesses by increasing the Net Operating Loss Deduction Limit.
• Creating the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit to encourage businesses to contribute to their employees’ childcare expenses.
• Allowing taxpayers to deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest from their state taxes.
• Creating tax credit to allow businesses to match employee contributions to college savings plans.
• Expanding the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit to make childcare more affordable for working families.
Growing the economy, creating jobs
Since Shapiro took office, his Administration has secured over $25.2 billion in new private sector investments, resulting in more than 11,200 new jobs across Pennsylvania.
The Shapiro administration released the first comprehensive Economic Development Strategy in nearly 20 years and continues to move quickly and efficiently to process permit applications, get businesses answers, and land major deals that benefit the people of Pennsylvania.
Making communities safer
Under Shapiro’s leadership, the Administration has bolstered public safety by securing funding for over 800 new Pennsylvania State Police troopers and nearly 700 municipal law enforcement officers.
The Shapiro Administration has also invested over $600 million in public safety, including $85 million in Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grants to more than 130 projects across Pennsylvania, $11.5 million to launch the Building Opportunity through Out of School Time (BOOST) Program for after-school learning and violence reduction, and $5 million increase for the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund, doubling the state’s investment in securing places of worship and community centers.
Supporting students, investing in schools
Over the past two years, Governor Shapiro has made historic investments in public education — including a record $1.1 billion increase in K-12 education funding this past year, the largest single-year investment in Pennsylvania’s history.
From securing universal free breakfast for every student to repairing hazardous school buildings to expanding access to mental health resources in nearly 800 schools, the Shapiro Administration has delivered real real results to benefit our students, support our teachers, and strengthen our communities across Pennsylvania.
LCCC joins Shapiro in championing workforce development
Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Success, Holly K. Pilcavage, this week joined Shapiro and workforce leaders at the IBEW Local 163 Training Center to highlight the Commonwealth’s growing investments in career training, apprenticeships, and pathways to high-paying jobs.
“Here at the IBEW Local 163 Training Center in Luzerne County and across Pennsylvania, we’re investing in all paths to success — and building the best workforce in the nation,” Shapiro said.
In her remarks, Pilcavage emphasized the vital role LCCC plays in preparing students for in-demand careers through education, hands-on training, and strong partnerships with business and industry.
“As the largest and most accessible college in Northeastern Pennsylvania, serving over 7,000 students across eight locations, LCCC is building real, tangible solutions to meet workforce needs,” Pilcavage said. “We are proud to work alongside Governor Shapiro to ensure our students and workers are ready for high-paying, high-demand jobs in our region.”
Pilcavage highlighted several initiatives that directly align with Pennsylvania’s workforce priorities:
Career & Technology Academy — Gives high school students from Career & Technical Centers the opportunity to earn college credits and industry-recognized skills before graduation. Thanks to a PDE Dual Credit Innovation Grant, tuition is covered for the first two years, eliminating a major barrier to access.
Micro-Credential Academy — Provides targeted training in high-demand fields like AI in manufacturing, industrial maintenance, welding, and heavy equipment operation, developed in direct partnership with local employers.
Construction & Trade Pre-Apprenticeship Academy — In collaboration with the Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades, creates a clear on-ramp into union apprenticeship programs and high-wage careers.
“These programs are built with one goal in mind: preparing individuals to step confidently into the jobs driving our region’s growth, from high-tech data centers to advanced manufacturing to the skilled trades,” Pilcavage said.
Shapiro’s administration has made significant workforce investments, including increasing funding for vocational, technical, and apprenticeship programs by nearly $65 million since 2022, creating 165 new pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs, and training more than 34,000 apprentices across Pennsylvania.
Shapiro has also championed record-setting projects, such as Amazon’s $20 billion data center investment, which will create 10,000 building trades jobs in Pennsylvania, and invested in Local 163’s growth through more than $1.34 million in state funding since 2022.
“At Luzerne County Community College, we are ready to meet the workforce needs of today while building the talent pipeline for tomorrow,” Pilcavage said.
Employer joins effort to support workers with disabilities
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) this week announced that Cintas has become the second major employer to participate in the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation’s (OVR) Integrated Vocational Engagement & Support Team (InVEST) program.
The program builds upon the Commonwealth’s commitment to uphold and advance Employment First, and leverages millions of dollars in federal funding to help transition individuals with disabilities away from subminimum wage positions to competitive, fulfilling careers.
Like the Shapiro Administration, Cintas values inclusion and opportunity in the workplace. As a publicly held Fortune 500 company, Cintas helps more than one million businesses in the United States and Canada get ready to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe, and looking their best.
“The expansion of the InVEST program is a clear demonstration of Pennsylvania’s unwavering commitment to inclusion and opportunity for all in the workplace,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. “Through strong partnerships with employers across the Commonwealth, we’re not only opening doors to meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities – we’re also helping businesses tap into a skilled, dedicated workforce that has historically been underrepresented. This is about building a stronger, fairer economy that works for everyone, and supporting every Pennsylvanian who dreams big dreams.”
