Governor Shapiro commits $20 million to support Pennsylvania businesses

Governor Josh Shapiro recently visited Fegley's Brew Works in the Lehigh Valley to spotlight his administration's initiatives aimed at supporting small businesses and main streets within Pennsylvania. The Shapiro Administration has allocated $20 million towards the Main Street Matters Program, benefiting small enterprises and commercial areas across the state. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) has facilitated local economic development by awarding $20,000 for commercial facade improvements, $146,500 for the remediation of a blighted property in Bethlehem's Enterprise Zone, and multiple Neighborhood Assistance Program grants to aid community development in Bethlehem City. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture provided over $516,000 in research and marketing grants to enhance the craft beer and malt beverage industry within the state.

Governor Shapiro emphasized the potential negative effects of new federal tariffs on business costs and industries like the craft beer sector. Pennsylvania, with its more than 500 craft breweries, is a significant contributor to craft beer production in the nation, supporting numerous jobs and contributing considerably to the economy. The Governor has focused on investments to assist craft brewers in expanding, modernizing, and entering new markets. The administration's aim is to reduce costs, eliminate bureaucratic challenges, and ensure that businesses in Pennsylvania have necessary resources for competition and growth.

"Every community in Pennsylvania has a main street - places where we come together to shop at small businesses, share a meal with family or friends, or have a beer on the weekends - and those main streets matter. While my Administration invests in our main streets, Washington is making it harder for the small businesses that line them to succeed by driving up their costs and increasing taxes," said Governor Shapiro. "The new federal tariffs going into effect today are a tax on our businesses and our consumers that will drive up costs for everyone - they'll even make beer more expensive. Here in Pennsylvania, instead of raising costs, we're cutting costs for our businesses and consumers, and focusing on smart, strategic investments that create opportunity and grow our economy."