Shapiro Administration's Efforts to Speed Up Permitting Process Leads to Major Economic Development Projects and Jobs

Strategic Insights -

Governor Josh Shapiro and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jessica Shirley joined executives from NorthPoint Development and labor leaders at the Keystone Trade Center to highlight how the Shapiro Administration's efforts to speed up and improve Pennsylvania's permitting process are helping the Commonwealth land major economic development projects and create thousands of jobs and economic growth across the Commonwealth. The Governor's visit follows an announcement by Amazon Web Services (AWS) to invest an initial $20 billion to build multiple high-tech cloud computing and AI innovation campuses across the Commonwealth, including a site at the redeveloped Keystone Trade Center in Falls Township.

The Commonwealth is investing an initial $10 million to expand workforce training, vo-tech, and career and technical education (CTE) statewide to ensure Pennsylvania workers have the skills to succeed in the jobs of the future. Code for America recently ranked Pennsylvania among the top three states for AI readiness in its July 2025 Government AI Landscape Assessment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Shapiro Administration's efforts to speed up and improve Pennsylvania's permitting process are attracting major economic development projects and creating thousands of jobs and economic growth across the Commonwealth.
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) is investing an initial $20 billion to build multiple high-tech cloud computing and AI innovation campuses across the Commonwealth, including a site at the redeveloped Keystone Trade Center in Falls Township.
  • The Commonwealth is investing an initial $10 million to expand workforce training, vo-tech, and career and technical education (CTE) statewide to ensure Pennsylvania workers have the skills to succeed in the jobs of the future.
  • The Governor's PA Permit Fast Track Program is a multi-agency initiative to expedite major economic development and infrastructure projects, with over 200 businesses having resolved discrete permitting challenges and engaging with more than 35 companies considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania.
  • DEP has eliminated its backlog of oil and gas permits, and is reducing its permit backlog by 98 percent, fully eliminating the backlog for Chapter 102 Individual NPDES Permits related to stormwater discharges from construction activities through the Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED) program.
  • The Shapiro Administration has launched PAyback, a program that requires Commonwealth agencies to process completed permits, licenses, or certification applications by a guaranteed date or refund the applicant's fee, providing greater certainty for businesses and residents.
  • NorthPoint Development has transformed the site at the Keystone Trade Center into a modern logistics campus, with over 5.5 million square feet already leased to top-tier global, national, and regional tenants.
  • NorthPoint's digital infrastructure EVP, Jeremy Michael, stated that the company is proud to stand alongside Governor Shapiro and the Commonwealth to advance economic growth in Pennsylvania, and that the PA Permit Fast Track Program is a shining example of public-private partnership in action.

Statistics:

  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) is investing an initial $20 billion in the Commonwealth.
  • The Commonwealth is investing an initial $10 million to expand workforce training, vo-tech, and career and technical education (CTE) statewide.
  • Code for America ranked Pennsylvania among the top three states for AI readiness in its July 2025 Government AI Landscape Assessment.
  • DEP has eliminated its backlog of oil and gas permits and is reducing its permit backlog by 98 percent.
  • The Shapiro Administration has secured over $25.2 billion in new private sector investments, resulting in more than 11,200 new jobs across Pennsylvania.
  • Business filing wait times have been slashed from 8 weeks to just 2 days on average, with some permits being approved as quickly as 1 day at best.

Sources:

  • [Governor Josh Shapiro](https://www.governor.pa.gov/)
  • [Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)](https://www.dep.pa.gov/)
  • [NorthPoint Development](https://www.northpointdev.com/)
  • [Code for America](https://www.codeforamerica.org/)
  • [Amazon Web Services (AWS)](https://aws.amazon.com/)
  • [PA Permit Fast Track Program](https://www.pamitting.com/fast-trak)