POPULATION: 12,432,792 (July 1, 2007)

LABOR FORCE: 6,062,000

RIGHT TO WORK: No

TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES: Mineral extraction and processing, agriculture, agribusiness, manufacturing, tourism

TARGETED INDUSTRIES: Life sciences, business and financial services, high technology, advanced materials and diversified manufacturing, building and construction, education, agriculture and food production, information and communication services, logistics and transportation, lumber wood and paper

COLLEGE GRADUATES: (Age 25 and over) 22.4%

BASIC BUSINESS TAXES:
Corporate Net Income Tax: 9.99 percent of taxable income (18 percent below 1991 levels) based on federal returns, with certain additions and deductions allocated to Pennsylvania; note: the Commonwealth has decoupled from the federal Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002

Capital Stock and Foreign Franchise Tax: 2.89 mills for tax year beginning 2009; and a one-mill reduction per year thereafter through 2010, after which the tax is eliminated

Sales and Use Tax: 6 percent of purchase price of tangible personal property and certain services, with exemptions; a local sales tax of 1 percent is collected on the sale of taxable goods and services initiated from a location in Philadelphia and Alleghany counties

Property Tax: Based on fair market value of property; rates vary among local jurisdictions; no state tax

BUSINESS INCENTIVES:
Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)

Single Application for Assistance - Financial assistance (under a comprehensive Economic Stimulus package passed by the legislature in April 2004) can be obtained with a simplified application form available from the DCED's Customer Service Center; eligible uses of the programs include:
• planning grants
• (agriculture and tourism)
• working capital
• payment of debt service
• business relocation/attraction
• land and building acquisition
• business retention
• expansion and construction
• startup businesses
• machinery and equipment
• purchases
• site remediation
• work force development
• refinancing
• infrastructure
• venture capital
• job creation
• technical assistance
• technology investment
• tax credits and abatements