State Resources


Pennsylvania Business Resources

Pennsylvania holds abundant deposits of coal and petroleum providing for a strong energy sector. At one point, Pennsylvania was the nation’s leading producer of energy. The abundance of energy also contributed to making the city of Pittsburgh the nation’s leader in steel production in the early 20th century. However, after the Great Depression, steel, mining, and agriculture began to shrink.

Today, Pennsylvania is home to thriving real estate, financial services and tourism industries. The state’s abundance of nature and historical sites has helped it become one of the nation’s top tourist destinations. Pennsylvania also boasts a strong manufacturing sector that includes the production of metals, machinery, food, and paper. While the steel industry is not as prominent as it once was, steel is still one of the state’s top exports and a critical component of the economy.

Business Data

Per Capita Real GDP$34,828 Rank: 27/50 (2006)
Population12,281,100 Rank: 6/50 (2000)
Per Capita Personal Income$36,680 Rank: 18/50 (2006)
Unemployment Rate4.80% Rank: 30/50 (2008)
Business Tax Climate IndexRank: 27/50 (2008)
Corporate Tax Rate9.99%
Individual Tax Rate 3.07
Sales Tax Rate 6%

Business Tax Climate Index

Individual Income Tax Index Rank11
Sales Tax Index Rank26
Unemployment Insurance Tax Index Rank25
Property Tax Index Rank47
Business Tax Climate Index27
Corporate Tax Index Rank42

State Information

AbbreviationPA
CapitalHarrisburg
Nick NameKeystone State
State Web Sitehttp://www.state.pa.us
MottoVirtue, liberty and independence

Top 5 Export Partner Countries

Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, Belgium

Top 5 Export Merchandise

Machinery Sales Primary Metals Sales Primary Metals Manufacturing Machinery Manufacturing Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

Major Cities

Allentown, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh

GDP

Total Gross Domestic Product (USD Millions) $531,110.00 (2007)
Per Capita Real GDP (USD)$35,153.00 Rank: 28 (2007)

Population Stats

Population 12,448,279 Rank: 6 (2008)

Age Distribution

Under 18 Population2,922,220
Under 18 Percent of Total Population24%
65 and older Population1,919,170
65 and older Percent of Total Population16%

Gender Distribution

Male Population48.3%
Female Population51.7%
Non-English Speaker (at home)782,599
Net International Immigration102,470
Birth Rate11.7%
Percent of People Under Poverty Level11.9%
Rank29

Expenditure

Per Capita State Spending$59,863
Rank29
Energy Expenditures per Person$3,761
Expenditures of State and Local Government Employee-Retirement Systems$7,065,507

Revenue

Personal Income$41,561
Rank18
State Internal Revenue Collection$112,368,286
Rank7
Cash and Deposits by State Government$6,154,100
Per Capita State Tax Collection$2,346
Rank24

Education

High School Graduation Rate78.9%
Rank11
Percent of Population with a Bachelor's Degree15.8%
Rank34
Percent of Population with an Advanced Degree9.7%
Rank20

Largest Universities

Pennsylvania State University Temple University University of Pittsburgh
High School Graduation Rate78.9%

Logistics

Public Road Length (Mile)121,292 (2005)
Gas Tax Rate (%)30%
Highway Planning and Construction (USD Thousands)1,453,084
Number of Public Airports131

Main Airports

MDT: Harrisburg PHL: Philadelphia PIT: Pittsburgh

Ports

Chester Erie Marcus Hook Penn Manor Philadelphia Pittsburgh

Weather


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State Business Links

The Philidelphia Inquirer
http://www.philly.com/inquirer

Secretary of State

Pennsylvania Secretary of State
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/
Corporation Bureau maintains the records repository of more than 2.4 million companies that do business in the Commonwealth and serves as the centralized filing office for Uniform Commercial Code financing statements.

Small Business Administration

Pennsylvania Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/pa/
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America's future, and to helping the United States compete in today's global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

Top 10 Business Links

Central Penn Business Journal
http://www.centralpennbusiness.com/
The Central Penn Business Journal is a weekly publication of the latest news in the state and local business scenes. Daily updates are also available on its website.
PennLauder CIBER
http://lauder.wharton.upenn.edu/ciber/default.asp
This CIBER is part of Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. It primarily conducts research into international business, with varying areas of interests; other programs include global trade and leaderships forums, a summer learning institute, as well as collaborations with international educational establishments.
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
http://www.pachamber.org/
The chamber is an advocacy organization that represents businesses in Pennsylvania. Aside from assisting businesses in meeting regulatory standards, it also holds conferences that address a variety of issues, such as innovation and environmental laws. The chamber conducts annual economic reports, and offers them, along with other publications on its website.
Pennsylvania’s Great Lakes Business Partnership
http://www.selectpagreatlakes.com/
The partnership is an effort to promote Northwest Pennsylvania as an attractive business destination. Its website hosts an internal search engine, with an interactive map that displays viable locations. They also offer business assistance, and maintain a data center for information of the region.
Philadelphia U.S. Export Assistance Center
http://www.buyusa.gov/philadelphia/
The Philadelphia branch of the Department of Commerce, serving Pennsylvania, specializes in helping small to medium sized companies develop and execute exporting strategies. Fees vary and are based on the service being provided.
University of Pittsburgh International Business Center
http://www.business.pitt.edu/ibc/
The International Business Center at the University of Pittsburgh was created to support programs that enhance the expertise, of both students and practitioners, in international business. It sponsors an international speaker series for businesses, and also partners with several state agencies to publish the PA Global Compass Newsletter. Other resources include research grants, foreign language study programs, and export information.

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