New Report from Shapiro Admin Shows How PA is Creating Economic Opportunity | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, PA - Under Governor Josh Shapiro's leadership, the Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO) supported more than 300 companies and helped spur billions in private investment in 2025 - including the largest private-sector investment in Commonwealth history - by streamlining permitting, increasing transparency, and delivering faster, more predictable government services, according to OTO's 2025 Impact Report.

The report highlights how OTO is helping Pennsylvania businesses and communities succeed by focusing on three key areas: providing high-touch support for major economic development projects, reducing permitting timelines and increasing transparency, and championing statewide economic growth. Through coordinated project management, early issue resolution, and data-driven oversight, OTO ensures that companies get timely answers, high-impact projects move forward efficiently, and Pennsylvania's economy remains competitive and resilient.

"From day one, we've focused on making Pennsylvania more competitive and ensuring government moves at the speed of business - and we're delivering results," said Governor Shapiro. "By cutting red tape, speeding up permitting, and coordinating government around high-impact projects, we're making it easier for businesses to invest and grow here. Our approach is working - attracting billions in private-sector investment, creating good-paying jobs, and positioning Pennsylvania as a national leader in efficient, effective government."

"By cutting red tape, improving transparency, and working collaboratively across agencies, we're building a faster, smarter, and more predictable government," said Ben Kirshner, OTO's Chief Transformation Officer. "The progress outlined in this year's Impact Report shows that these reforms are not just ideas - they're delivering real results for businesses and communities across Pennsylvania."

The full report is available here, and highlights three key areas of progress:

Providing High-Touch Economic Development Project Support

OTO's PA Permit Fast Track Program, created under Executive Order 2024-04, brings project sponsors and relevant permitting agencies together early in development to align expectations, resolve issues, and coordinate reviews across agencies. Today, the Fast Track portfolio includes seven major projects representing billions in potential private investment across the Commonwealth, with OTO actively engaged on eight additional projects and continuing to expand the program's impact through 2026.

Last year through Fast Track, OTO worked with the Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP), Transportation (PennDOT), and others to streamline critical permits for major projects. This included Century Development in Lackawanna County, which completed five required permits ahead of schedule - saving an estimated 18 months of development time - and building on earlier DEP reclamation work and a $6 million PA SITES investment for grading and utility extensions.

Beyond Fast Track, OTO serves as a central point of contact for businesses navigating Pennsylvania's regulatory and permitting landscape - providing guidance, coordinating agencies, and helping projects move efficiently from concept to construction. For example, Kulp Dairy Farm in Blair County received its permit more than four months ahead of schedule, allowing the third-generation family farm to expand infrastructure, add nearly 1,000 dairy cows, and sustain and create local jobs.

Reducing Permitting Timelines & Increasing Transparency

Through Fast Track and related initiatives, OTO has reduced permitting timelines, improved cross-agency coordination, and increased transparency for businesses and communities. OTO developed the Commonwealth's first Permits, Licenses, and Certifications (PLC) Catalog, enabling agencies to track performance, identify bottlenecks, and improve customer service year over year.

This data-driven approach supports PAyback, Pennsylvania's first-in-the-nation online money-back guarantee for delayed permits. Since its launch in 2023, more than 40 million applications have been processed statewide, with only five refunds issued - reflecting strong agency performance and improved coordination across government.

Pennsylvania's leadership on permitting reform is also shaping the national conversation. Governor Shapiro co-leads a bipartisan federal permit reform working group with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, collaborating with 13 governors and the National Governors Association to advance recommendations that accelerate permitting for energy and infrastructure projects nationwide.

Championing Economic Growth

OTO's work to streamline permitting, coordinate agencies, and move government at the speed of business is directly advancing Governor Shapiro's focus on efficient government and economic competitiveness - delivering measurable results across Pennsylvania. Since taking office, the Shapiro Administration has attracted nearly $35 billion in private-sector investment, creating more than 18,000 good-paying jobsstatewide. This includes the largest private-sector investment in Commonwealth history - Amazon's initial $20 billion investment to build new AI and cloud computing campuses, generating thousands of high-tech and construction jobs.

The Governor has also launched Pennsylvania's first comprehensive economic development strategy in nearly two decades, eliminated major permit backlogs - including DEP's backlog of 2,400 permits - and invested hundreds of millions of dollars to prepare sites for development, strengthen Main Streets, and support small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Under Governor Shapiro's leadership, Pennsylvania is now the only state in the Northeast with a growing economy, according to analysis by Moody's Analytics. Area Development ranked Pennsylvania among the top 20 "Best States for Business" - the only Northeastern state to make the list - and placed the Commonwealth in the top 10 for "Site Readiness Programs." Site Selection Magazine has named Pennsylvania one of the top business climates in the nation. The Commonwealth is 11th in the 2025 Business Climate Rankings, up seven spots from last year.

Delivering Results for Pennsylvanians

The 2025 Impact Report shows how the Shapiro Administration is delivering faster government, stronger communities, and an economy built for the future - by supporting businesses, streamlining permitting, and ensuring state government delivers results quickly, efficiently, and transparently.

Learn more about the Shapiro Administration's work to support Pennsylvania's workers and businesses and spur the economy, and discover how the Administration is creating economic opportunity to build a stronger, more competitive economy for all Pennsylvanians.