On August 21, the PA Chamber Foundation hosted a meeting to update stakeholders about progress made on development of the Keystone Initiative, a guide that will ultimately serve as a long-term economic strategy to make Pennsylvania more competitive.

The meeting featured an overview of Gov. Shapiro’s recently unveiled 10-year economic development strategy, Pennsylvania Gets It Done, including the plan’s assessment of the commonwealth’s strengths, areas of concern, top industry sectors, and five strategy areas.

Attendees were also briefed on responses to a survey of PA Chamber members focused on Pennsylvania’s competitiveness.

Overall, PA Chamber members rate the Pennsylvania economy as “good,” with room for improvement. They stressed that we are not realizing our full economic potential. Respondents said that Pennsylvania needs to be more welcoming to business activity and improve our business climate through permitting modernization, tax reform, and legal reform, among other areas.

This information, along with additional research and data collection conducted during the Keystone Initiative’s Phase 2, will inform the final phase, during which the PA Chamber Foundation, Keystone Initiative Co-Chairs, PA Chamber Policy Council members and other contributors will develop a final report with recommendations to improve Pennsylvania’s competitiveness.

For more information, visit www.pachamber.org/keystone_inititiative/.