05-03-2025
NEPA ranked in top 10 in U.S. for economic development
Mar. 4—WILKES-BARRE — John Augustine III, President/CEO at Penn's Northeast, on Tuesday said the recognition of Northeastern Pennsylvania as one of the top locations in the U.S. for economic development projects is a huge deal.
"This ranking represents the more than 25 companies that weren't here in our area two years ago," Augustine said. "The ranking represents that the tremendous growth in the region and the new investments and, most importantly, it represents the thousands of jobs that were created because of that."
And Augustine quickly added that those thousands of new jobs pay "family-sustaining" wages.
"Competition raises wages — that's a fact," Augustine said.
For the fifth consecutive year, Northeastern Pennsylvania has been recognized as one of the top locations in the United States for economic development projects.
"This year, the region ranked in the Top 10 for both the number of projects and projects per capita," Augustine said.
NEPA — the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton region — ranked 9th in the 2024 Tier 2 Top Metros by total projects, 25; and the region ranked 8th for per capita.
The prestigious Governor's Cup Awards, produced annually by Site Selection Magazine, ranks the top regions in the U.S. based on completed economic development projects.
Augustine said the ranking highlights the region's continued success in attracting and expanding businesses.
"Companies pay attention to the rankings that Site Selection puts out," Augustine said. "It really is the industry's go-to standard as far as how competitive states and regions are. So for NEPA to be ranked in the Top 1o in two categories is remarkable."
Augustine said the high ranking is proof positive that companies are specifically selecting NEPA to do business.
"In recent years, these companies have literally invested billions of dollars to locate in the region," Augustine said. "They invest in buildings, infrastructure, machinery, equipment and, more importantly, employees.
Augustine said Penn's Northeast, the regional economic development agency, played a key role in compiling and submitting a comprehensive list of qualifying projects that contributed to this recognition.
"This is a competitive process that takes place across the country every year," Augustine said. "Northeastern PA continues to be a region of choice for top companies and developers. There's no question our location continues to be one of the strongest selling points. You can reach one-third of the United States and half of Canada in a one-day's drive from Northeastern Pennsylvania."
Augustine said companies continue to recognize this advantage as they need to get their products to market and consumers as quickly as possible.
"In addition to our strategic location, reliable utilities, and dedicated workforce, our amazing education network makes Northeastern Pennsylvania a top-tier destination for business growth," Augustine said. "The results show that companies looking to expand continue to choose our region as a prime location. We continue to experience unprecedented growth, not just in warehouse distribution, but also in manufacturing."
Augustine further emphasized the region's future prospects.
"With ongoing infrastructure investments and a strong collaboration between the public and private sectors, Northeastern Pennsylvania is well-positioned to remain a leader in economic development for years to come," Augustine said.
Site Selection Magazine, produced by Conway Data, is a bi-monthly publication recognized as a leading source for corporate real estate, facility planning, location analysis, and foreign direct investment. The Governor's Cup Awards are highly regarded within the industry and serve as a benchmark for regional economic success.
About Penn's Northeast Inc.
1151 Oak St., Pittston, PA 18640
Penn's Northeast is a public-private partnership dedicated to attracting quality employers to Northeastern Pennsylvania and strengthening the regional economy through new investments and job creation.
For information about Penn's Northeast, visit or call 1-800-317-1313.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
