Gov. Josh Shapiro and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger visit Joseph Machine Company in Dillsburg Nov. 13, 2024 (Commonwealth Media Services photo)
During his first public appearance since the election, Gov. Josh Shapiro visited York County Wednesday and gave his thoughts on the outcome of several races in Pennsylvania.
Shapiro was in Dillsburg to announce a $2 million investment in local manufacturer Joseph Machine Company.
“Thankfully, lawmakers have agreed, Republican and Democrat alike, and now we have the tools necessary to be able to invest in a company like this,” Shapiro said during a tour of the company with Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger. The funds were made available through Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).
“Why are we betting on Joseph? Because Joseph is betting on American manufacturing, and they’re betting on Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. “They’re going to create dozens of new jobs here and begin what hopefully will be a multi pronged expansion here, so that Dillsburg becomes the capital of the world when it comes to making this type of machinery that’s powering our cars and making sure our homes are safe and secure and much, much more.”
Anthony Pigliacampo, CEO of Joseph Machine Co., described the company created by his immigrant father decades ago as an “American success story.”
“We really believe that a strong U.S. manufacturing sector is essential to a thriving economy,” he said on Wednesday. “Manufacturing innovation, most people don’t think about this, but that’s what drives the cost down on things.”
Pigliacampo emphasized the impact that the state funding will have on the company.
“This RACP funding that we got is going to make a huge difference for us,” he said. “We’re a family-owned business. We’ve invested heavily in the last 20 years in our people, our processes and our technology, that’s actually enabled us to grow at a 20% clip annually for almost 15 years in a row.”
Pigliacampo added that with the funding, they will “take this facility and we’re going to expand and build another facility next to it.”
Shapiro pointed out that the materials that Joseph is using are from Pennsylvania companies and the investment not only helps their company, but others in the state, as well.
Following prepared remarks, Shapiro told reporters that he’s keeping his focus on addressing the issues facing Pennsylvanians after the latest election.
“We’re going to continue to focus on economic opportunity, schools, safety and things that bring people together. So my focus won’t change,” Shapiro said. “And look, despite the fact that there was an election that saw some significant change at the national level, here at the state level, we continue to re-elect people who are focused on bringing more opportunity, who are willing to work together.”
“The Democrats retain their majority in the House, the Republicans maintain their majority in the Senate, and I’m prepared to continue to work with both of them to advance the cause of real freedom and opportunity in Pennsylvania,” he added.
Shapiro congratulated House Speaker Joanna McClinton, House Democratic Leader Matt Bradford, and House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Jordan Harris for maintaining Democrats’ one-seat majority in the state House.
“They faced some significant headwinds, and they won,” Shapiro said.
In addition to Donald Trump winning the state’s 19 electoral votes, Republicans swept the statewide row offices.
Shapiro was asked a question about attorney-general elect Dave Sunday, a Republican.
“Attorney General Dave Sunday is a really quality guy, someone I worked closely with when I was AG and he was District Attorney,” Shapiro said, referencing their relationship when he was serving as the state’s attorney general and Sunday was the district attorney in York County.
“He’s someone who I know will enforce the law without fear or favor. He’ll bring his own approach to the job as he should, he was chosen by the voters to lead that critically important office,” Shapiro added. “He and I have communicated. We’re going to continue to communicate, and I know we’ll work together to protect the good people of Pennsylvania.”
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