Governor Shapiro Launches New Effort to Revitalize Chester with Nearly $100 Million in Targeted Investments from the Commonwealth and Private Sector

The Shapiro Administration worked closely with area business leaders, local nonprofits, and city and county government to develop a multi-pronged strategy to revitalize public spaces, improve safety, and drive economic growth in Chester.

The Commonwealth's $75.5 million investment will support local revitalization efforts and help spur more than $97.1 million in total investment ― benefitting the Chester community for years to come.

Chester, PA - Today, Governor Josh Shapiro launched a new effort to invest in and revitalize Chester, Pennsylvania alongside state and local elected officials, business leaders from Delaware County, and community and nonprofit leaders ― creating new opportunities for the city, its residents, and businesses. Developed in close coordination with the local community, the revitalization effort is being launched with nearly $100 million in public and private investments in Chester, which will fund improvements to local road and pedestrian infrastructure, increased support for violence prevention initiatives, expanded blight remediation, and new opportunities for economic growth.

Chester has experienced a long period of fiscal distress and is currently one of the poorest cities in the Commonwealth.

"Over the past few years, my Administration has been working closely with local leaders in Chester to invest in public safety, local schools, and the City's main streets - and thanks to that work, we were able to pull together nearly $100 million to support the city of Chester moving forward," said Governor Shapiro. "With the Commonwealth's significant support, we have a plan to invest in Chester, build on our progress, and help this city reach its full potential. Chester's elected officials, private sector leaders, and educational institutions are all behind this plan - and together, we will write the next chapter of this city's story."

Investing in Chester's Future

At the Governor's direction, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) has worked with community stakeholders across the city and built a coalition of public and private stakeholders. The Commonwealth, area business leaders, local nonprofits, and city and county government will invest a total of $97,100,863 into the Chester revitalization efforts:

• $52,570,000 for the Route 291/U.S. 13 project to redesign and revamp a section of Route 291 that bisects the City of Chester's downtown from the waterfront to increase roadway safety ($50.07 million through a PennDOT/Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Complete Streets Safety Project and $2.5 million from Delaware County).
• $27,504,783 for the Waterfront Sportsplex development project to build new outdoor fields, a 100,000-square-foot fieldhouse, indoor courts, academy space, and a performance center to expand youth programs and support school and community sports. $13 million will be through the Commonwealth's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project (RACP) program and $14.5 million will come from matching funds from the Philadelphia Union.
• $7,250,000 through PennDOT's Transportation Infrastructure and Improvement Fund (TIIF) program for a Complete Streets project to improve the connection between downtown and Widener University, including new sidewalks and other pedestrian improvements along Edgemont Avenue from 14th Street to 17th Street.
• $6,280,000 for Widener University to support major renovations and site upgrades to modernize Lathem Hall, a key academic building and community event space ($2.5 million through the Commonwealth's RACP program and $3.78 million in matching funds from Widener University).
• $2,600,000 to help address blight through demolition and site readiness. Essential Utilities, Power Home Remodeling, and Wawa have committed $2 million to this effort collectively. Delaware County has also committed $400,000 through its Act 151 funding and Chester City has committed $200,000 through its Community Development Block Grant. Under this funding, two buildings will be demolished, 10 lots will be acquired, two buildings will be acquired, and 25 structures will be improved.
• $440,280 through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD)'s Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) program to the Making a Change Group to help reduce violence by providing mentoring opportunities and credible messenger-based violence intervention services to young adults living in three neighborhoods in Chester.
• $400,000 through the Chester Pilot Capitalization Program ($150,000 through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and $250,000 through the Chester Cultural Arts and Technology Center (CCAT)) to invest in CCAT as a community hub for social enterprise, community engagement, and workforce development.
• $33,000 through DCED's Economic Development and Community Development Initiatives (EDCDI) program to help fund a Neighborhood Block Captain Program through Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for hundreds of volunteers across more than a dozen neighborhoods.
• $22,800 through DCED's Enterprise Zone designation for the City of Chester, which focuses on the deteriorated, distressed, and blighted industrial or manufacturing areas of a community.

"Today's announcement is an exciting new chapter for the Chester community, and I congratulate everyone who has worked together to make this revitalization strategy a reality," said DCED Secretary Rick Siger. "These investments will help improve Downtown Chester by focusing on arts and culture, improving safety, and generating economic growth for residents and businesses alike. The Shapiro Administration continues to focus on investing in our communities to help them become stronger and healthier, and we look forward to seeing Chester prosper in the coming years."

"Improving transportation creates vibrant, accessible communities, connecting people to opportunity and to each other," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "PennDOT is proud to support the people of Chester with these investments, which will help them get to where they're going safely and efficiently, no matter how they travel."

"We know that safety builds the foundation for a community's success. People want to feel safe where they live, work, and spend time. Under the leadership of Governor Shapiro and Lt. Governor Davis, we're making real progress in reducing crime and violence," said Kirsten Kenyon, Executive Director of PCCD. "Today's revitalization investments reinforce that commitment and move us closer to ensuring every individual across the Commonwealth can feel safe in their neighborhoods and communities."

"We are so proud to be a partner in this game-changing collaborative investment in downtown Chester," said Karl Blischke, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Creative Industries, powered by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA). "We believe that the development of a thriving creative sector ecosystem has the power to play a key role in long-term reinvestment strategies and will help ensure a vital, sustainable future for this city."

Building A Strong Foundation for Chester's Future

The revitalization strategy ― which focuses on creating economic opportunity for Chester residents, strengthening neighborhoods, and enhancing community safety - includes the following initiatives:

• Demolition and site readiness to remove blight and prepare redevelopment-ready sites throughout the city.
• Downtown pedestrian improvements to improve the Edgemont Avenue/Avenue of State corridor to create pedestrian-focused connections between Widener University and downtown. Additionally, PennDOT's Route 291/U.S. 13 project will establish a multi-use side path that will be designated as part of the East Coast Greenway.
• Enterprise Zone Designation to guide strategic reinvestment, support redevelopment projects, and create a framework for long-term economic growth.
• Neighborhood Block Captain Program to support two citywide Block Captain cleanups and strengthen ongoing program efforts.
• Pilot Capitalization Program to help arts organizations build financial stability, develop sustainable operations, and increase their capacity to serve residents.
• Violence Intervention and Prevention to reduce violence in the city and surrounding communities.
• Waterfront Sportsplex Redevelopment RACP to support this major waterfront development project that will create a multisport complex with new outdoor fields, 100,000-square-foot fieldhouse, indoor courts, academy space, and performance center.

"This revitalization package represents a transformational investment in Chester and its people. It is the result of nearly two and a half years of working closely with Governor Shapiro and his administration to develop a comprehensive stimulus package that addresses Chester's most pressing needs while advancing our long-term vision for revitalization," said Chester Mayor Stefan Roots. "These resources will allow us to combat blight, repair owner-occupied homes, strengthen vital community programs, improve our roads and sidewalks, and create new incentives for economic growth. This is what revitalization should look like - a comprehensive investment that improves quality of life today while laying the foundation for Chester's future. I thank Governor Shapiro and his administration for recognizing Chester's potential and partnering with us to turn our plans for progress into action. I am also deeply grateful to the businesses and corporate partners whose generous contributions through the tax credits helped make this major investment possible."

"As a Pennsylvania-based company with deep roots in Delaware County, Wawa is proud to invest in this partnership to support programs and neighborhood improvements to build a stronger future," said Chris Gheysens, Chairman & CEO, Wawa. "We appreciate Governor Shapiro's leadership and are honored to join the Commonwealth, Chester's leaders, business partners, and community organizations in this important effort."

"This investment reflects Aqua's longstanding commitment to the City of Chester and to Delaware County," said David Kralle, VP of Public Affairs, Essential Utilities. "We're proud to support Governor Shapiro's efforts on behalf of the future of the city."

"On behalf of Widener University, I thank Gov. Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development for this transformative investment in the city of Chester," said Dr. Stacey Robertson, President of Widener University. "This is exactly the kind of partnership Chester needs - one where economic opportunity, education and revitalization move forward together. Widener is proud to call Chester home, and we look forward to being an active partner in writing this next chapter."

"One thing I can tell you is the union is all about teamwork, and working with Governor Shapiro, Mayor Roots, and leaders here today, I can tell you we are going to build the city that Chester wants to be," said Jay Sugarman, Chairman & Majority Owner, Philadelphia Union and Union Sports & Entertainment. "This is an opportunity to grow that waterfront into another part of Chester that can be special, not just locally, not just in Pennsylvania, but nationally."

"As an organization built on improving homes and communities, helping drive the revitalization of our own backyard is something that we're passionate about," said Adam Kaliner, Co-Founder, Power Home Remodeling. "We are proud to play an active role in this collaborative effort. Our roots are firmly planted in Chester, and our true investment will always be in the people, families, and neighbors who make Chester so vibrant. We are honored to contribute to this transformation and help build a stronger, brighter future for our hometown."

A full list of the funding, projects, and initiatives included in Chester's revitalization strategy for the downtown area is available online.

Learn more about the Shapiro Administration's efforts to strengthen downtowns and communities across the Commonwealth, support workers, businesses, and spur the economy to build a stronger, more competitive economy for all Pennsylvanians.

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