Gov. Josh Shapiro visited the Philadelphia Navy Yard to highlight a $30 million investment of transforming 54 acres into advanced manufacturing, life science and commercial use sites. 

The money was awarded through the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites program and aims to create jobs and grow the state’s economy by developing the Navy Yard’s Greenway District. 

The local investment is part of Shapiro’s first round of PA SITES funding of $64 million awarded to 11 sites across the state.

“When I took office, I made clear that my administration would be focused on making Pennsylvania more competitive and making us a leader in economic development, job creation and innovation,” said Shapiro. “We’ve heard loud and clear: Pennsylvania needs more shovel-ready sites to compete for businesses and good-paying jobs. These investments lay the groundwork to attract companies, strengthen communities and make sure our commonwealth is ready to compete and win in today’s economy.”

Shapiro was joined by Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger at the Navy Yard, which is home to more than 150 employers and 15,000 jobs. 

“When we were developing the Economic Development Strategy, we took feedback from site selector experts who told us Pennsylvania needs more readily available sites for growing businesses to see Pennsylvania as a viable option,” said Siger. “These projects will create new jobs, expand opportunity for Pennsylvanians and strengthen the commonwealth’s economic future for years to come because when it comes to delivering real economic development results, Pennsylvania gets it done.”

The $30 million grant awarded to Ensemble/Mosaic Navy Yard LLC will fund utility infrastructure, soil excavation, grading and stormwater management to develop the Greenway District. The construction will prepare six lots for up to 700,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing and commercial space. It complements a $6 billion redevelopment effort that is expected to generate 12,000 new jobs.

In 2020, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation awarded the partnership development rights to 109 acres at the Navy Yard, which is being transformed into a mixed-use district. The master plan includes 9 million square feet of new development, including lab and manufacturing space for life sciences companies, 4,000 apartments and 235,000 square feet of retail. Additionally last year, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency awarded a $500,000 Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund grant to develop mixed-income residential apartments and the New Africa Cultural Center and Museum in Philadelphia.

“This transformative investment from the commonwealth’s innovative new PA SITES program strengthens the Navy Yard’s role as a powerful engine of job creation and economic growth throughout Philadelphia and Pennsylvania,” said Jodie Harris, president of PIDC. “It will help attract new businesses, support the expansion of our life sciences and advanced manufacturing industries, and create hundreds of good-paying jobs across a wide range of skill and educational levels. This is about building opportunity for workers, for small businesses and for the long-term prosperity of Philadelphia and the region.”

The site was chosen among 66 applications requesting over $377 million during the first round of PA SITES funding. The state continues to accept and review applications on a rolling basis, with additional grant and loan awards expected later this year.

“Pennsylvania thrives when we invest in the brilliance and capacity of our people and communities,” said Sen.Nikil Saval. “The work here at our Navy Yard shows the successful reclamation of a heavily industrialized space. This endeavor demonstrates the importance of — and demand for — development that fosters density, honors accessibility through walkable streets and public transit, and embraces design and infrastructure that enables communities to thrive for the long-term, even as our region faces extreme weather and rising sea levels. The PA SITES grant allows this important work of building a cohesive, enduring community to continue.”

PA SITES funding can be used for planning grants to conduct plans or feasibility studies for prospective sites as well as construction grants and loans to help finance strategic investments to enhance sites across the state. Award amounts are determined based on a competitive analysis that includes the applicant’s need, the marketability of the fully developed site and the project’s alignment with the key industries in Pennsylvania’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy, and local and regional priorities.

“With LEED-certified buildings, improvement of state roads like Broad Street and a focus on stormwater management, the Navy Yard is paving the way nationally as a leader in green development,” said Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler. “They’re bringing jobs and revenue to South Philadelphia responsibly, and I’m eager to see this new neighborhood bloom.”