Expanding Pennsylvania Worldwide

Summary

Expanding Pennsylvania's commercial presence throughout the world creates jobs, boosts revenues and positions the commonwealth as a global leader. As a part of his 5-part comprehensive Economic Development plan Tom Corbett will work to expand the commonwealth's international trade opportunities and facilitate job growth. By focusing on enhancing our foreign presence, penetrating new markets for small and mid-size company growth, selectively recruiting new companies to invest in the state and marketing Pennsylvania to the rest of the world we can restore our state as leader in economic growth.

Plan Highlights

• Growing Pennsylvania's ports and intermodal assets, directing Penn DOT and DCED to ensure the commonwealth's international trade efforts and investments are coordinated:
  • Support deepening of the Delaware River
  • Improve intermodal system to carry goods and services
  • Market ports, rail and air domestically to businesses and manufacturers
• Enhancing existing infrastructure of the PA Office of International Business Development (OIBD), focusing on job growth through outreach to mid-sized companies and targeted recruitment of large employers
• Developing strategic international alliances with partner countries/regions that will focus on growing Pennsylvania's export of both goods and services and target supply and demand side benefits
• Utilizing the capabilities of the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, enhancing the state's relationship with Team Pennsylvania around international growth and utilizing the partnership as an incubator of ideas and as a private-sector led framework for implementation
• Attracting the World's best and brightest - Tom will continue to welcome foreign students as they are a great resource to our international business development efforts. Currently, more than 27,000 foreign students are enrolled in Pennsylvania schools which adds up to $800 million in annual spending
• Encouraging export growth and new market access across all industry sectors, utilizing OIBD and Team Pennsylvania to encourage export growth by:
  • Providing direct export and market access assistance to Pennsylvania industries
  • Building a network of PA-based international businesses to provide practical business-to-business market-specific guidance
• Making Pennsylvania known to the World - Tom will pursue a collaborative and practical approach to marketing Pennsylvania, working with the state and Team Pennsylvania to enhance and refine Pennsylvania's marketing efforts with the most cost-effective outreach methods
• Attracting international companies to create jobs - Tom will work with the OIDB and Team Pennsylvania to promote Pennsylvania's strengths as a compelling business location for international companies
• Encouraging expansion of "meds and eds" international outreach, forming an alliance of medical and educational institutions to encourage the expansion of international outreach and to harness economic growth opportunity for Pennsylvania

 

View a printable version of Tom Corbett's full Economic Development Plan (PDF file)

©2010, Paid for by Tom Corbett for Governor
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