A 100-acre site in Point Township previously targeted for an end-of-life recycling plant has been earmarked to receive more than $5.7 million in state funding to create a pad-ready location to attract potential developers.
On Wednesday, state leaders announced more than $31 million in state funding spread across seven projects through the PA SITES — Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites — program. That total includes a $5,753,400 grant to DRIVE to develop the property into a “pad-ready” site for manufacturing or light industrial development.
Jennifer Wakeman, the executive director of DRIVE — a five-county economic development group that owns the plot of land — said making a site “pad ready” includes required earthwork and grading, relocating utility poles, installing a 125,000-gallon water tank and finalizing studies required for permitting an on-lot septic system.
“Essentially, it means we are going to get the site ready to get a building to be put there,” Wakeman said. “It’s not like it’s suddenly going to look a lot different. We are moving a lot of dirt already. We need to level the site, bring in some fill and get the area out of the 100-year floodplain.
The location adjacent to the Susquehanna River — once eyed by Encina officials for a recycling location — presents a unique opportunity for a developer, Wakeman said.
“The site has its challenges, but really it’s a rarity and we had to prove that to the state in site and market analysis,” Wakeman said. “It’s 100 acres on a state road. It’s flat and it has access to rail. We always thought, ‘If we can get this ready to go, we can meet our mission to create jobs.'”
The first round of PA SITES awards was announced in May 2025 and the second round in October 2025. DCED administers the program, accepting applications and awarding grants and loans for eligible projects on a rolling quarterly basis. Since the program’s inception, PA SITES has awarded more than $146.4 million in funding to 37 projects.
DRIVE’s grant is part of the third round of PA SITES awards.
“We have built incredible economic development momentum in Pennsylvania thanks to investments like PA SITES, which has given us the ability to win deals we would not have won before,” Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger said. “Pennsylvania already offers so much of what companies are looking for — a skilled workforce, abundant natural resources and a strategic location — and now we’re matching those strengths with development-ready sites.
“These new investments will create even more good-paying jobs, expand opportunity, and drive long-term economic growth in communities across the commonwealth.”
Wakeman said there has been continued interest in the location, but this news may expedite the process.
“We have had a few feelers for the site, including some waiting to see if we get this grant,” she said. “The purpose of the grant is get sites in Pennsylvania ready for industry. That is exactly what we are doing. We’ve had a couple of developers interested. This will make the location all the more interesting.”
