Pennsylvania is seeing a wave of major private-sector investments, and PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein says recent improvements to the state’s business climate are helping put Pennsylvania in a position to compete for them. In an interview published last week in the Philadelphia Business Journal, Bernstein pointed to the state’s phased reduction of the Corporate Net Income Tax and bipartisan efforts to streamline permitting as factors helping Pennsylvania attract and retain major employers. “When you look at the calls we’re getting now from companies considering Pennsylvania, it’s finally an opportunity for Pennsylvania to be on the offense and land some of these big projects,” Bernstein said. The results are increasingly visible across the state. Since 2023, Pennsylvania has attracted $43 billion in private-sector investment, including major projects involving Chobani, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Burlington Stores, Urban Outfitters, and many others. Southeastern Pennsylvania has been a major beneficiary. Burlington most recently announced plans to relocate its headquarters to Philadelphia with a $370 million investment expected to create 2,000 jobs over five years. Additionally, Urban Outfitters is investing $150 million to expand its Navy Yard headquarters and create 450 jobs, while Chobani plans a $1.2 billion manufacturing facility in the Lehigh Valley. The PA Chamber has worked with state and local officials, economic development organizations, and business leaders to help advance these projects, including by making the business case for Pennsylvania and advocating for a more competitive tax and regulatory environment. The impact of these investments extends beyond individual projects, he said. Chobani’s investment, for example, will support Pennsylvania’s water infrastructure and dairy industry, while Johnson & Johnson’s planned cell therapy facility could strengthen the state’s broader life sciences and higher education ecosystem. “Those things have led to big wins,” Bernstein said. Bernstein also pointed to southeastern Pennsylvania’s concentration of research institutions, life sciences companies, and health care systems as an opportunity to build on the region’s momentum, particularly by turning university research into new companies and commercial products. The continued growth of Pennsylvania’s economy will depend on maintaining that momentum, Bernstein said, including continued progress on taxes, permitting, and the broader business climate. Read the full Philadelphia Business Journal interview with Luke Bernstein.