Second phase of Pa. Chamber initiative looks to long-term economic growth for Pa.

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In an effort to drive long-term economic growth throughout the state, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce plans to create what it calls a “guide post for policymakers and elected officials.”

A year after beginning its “Bringing PA Back” initiative to guide businesses for a safe reopening after the pandemic, the Pa. Chamber announced the second phase of the initiative: “Rise to the Challenge.”

As part of the new phase, the chamber will identify benchmarks to chart how Pennsylvania ranks in its economic growth compared to other states and note where there is opportunity for improvement.

It will then look toward the legislature to enact policies that improve on three pillars of economic growth that the chamber has already outlined: competitiveness, infrastructure and workforce.

“With the widespread distribution of the COVID vaccines and return to a sense of normalcy, we now need to focus on the economic future we envision for our Commonwealth,” said Gene Barr, president and CEO of the PA Chamber. “It is not enough to simply bring Pennsylvania’s economy back to what it was pre-pandemic. We need to seize the opportunity before us to make our state a beacon for innovation and investment.”

The first step will include statewide polling of Pennsylvanians, a move that Barr says will allow the strategy the chamber creates to engage not only the business community but everyday Pennsylvanians.

“A lot of times, people in Pennsylvania don’t understand why they or their kids aren’t getting career opportunities, particularly with the assets we have,” he said. “By expanding our efforts, we are making sure that Pennsylvanians understand what exactly we are doing.”

The second wave of the initiative comes after the U.S. Census confirmed that Pennsylvania would once again lose a representative in the U.S. House after seeing only a 2.4% population growth in the last decade.

If Pennsylvania can better use the assets available to it, such as its educational institutions, energy and water resources, it could turn around its stagnating population and enchant more businesses to continue operations or create new opportunities in the Commonwealth, according to Barr.

“Only by enhancing Pennsylvania’s ability to compete, investing in our workforce and strengthening our infrastructure will we truly realize the Commonwealth’s full potential and reap the benefits of a dynamic economy, securing our rightful place in the global marketplace,” said Nicholas Bertram, president of The GIANT Company and chair of the PA Chamber’s board of directors.