Statement from Allegheny Conference on Community Development CEO Stefani Pashman in Response to Governor Josh Shapiro’s Budget Address

Statement from Allegheny Conference on Community Development
CEO Stefani Pashman in Response to Governor Josh Shapiro's Budget Address

"This legislature and governor have shown they will work together to move Pennsylvania forward in a bipartisan manner on issues ranging from critical site investment to reducing the corporate net income tax rate and improving the state permitting system, to the critical investments made in downtown Pittsburgh. We look forward to our continued partnership in moving our region forward.

"In this budget proposal, we appreciate investments in economic development, such as the Advance PA Credit, and key investments in our innovation economy. The Pittsburgh region sits at the nexus of many of these sectors - advanced manufacturing, energy, life sciences, and robotics and AI - and the proposed resources and support will encourage growth and business investment throughout our region and beyond.

"As our nation faces a dire demand on energy, we believe that Pennsylvania, and our region in particular, can lead the future of energy production and innovation by addressing grid reliability challenges and leveraging our unique strengths, such as abundant natural gas and extensive nuclear technologies, a skilled workforce, and natural assets. We look forward to partnering with the Shapiro administration and legislative stakeholders to establish state-level policy frameworks as a critical path toward accelerating this work. We further appreciate the governor's attention to the rising demand for energy through modifications to PA EDGE, which invests in reliable energy sources for the grid, including advanced nuclear, regional hydrogen projects, and the production of sustainable aviation fuel. Leading in energy, especially with our assets in advanced nuclear, Pennsylvania would have an immense opportunity to compete with other states for economic development projects.

"Cultivating an environment that is friendly for business is essential to our region's growth. We look forward to working alongside the Shapiro-Davis administration, general assembly, and public and private partners to continue building upon efforts and conditions that drive economic growth from within and outside the Pennsylvania market, ultimately improving our region's economic future and quality of life for all."

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