Overview
- Gov. Josh Shapiro announced on Thursday, September 10, 2026, a roughly $97.1 million public-private investment package and enterprise-zone designation for Chester to spur redevelopment.
- The largest single commitment is $52.6 million to redesign a section of Route 291/U.S. 13 to improve safety and physically reconnect the downtown and riverfront.
- The state and the Philadelphia Union will provide $27.5 million to expand the riverfront Sportsplex with new outdoor fields, a 100,000-square-foot field house, indoor courts, academy space, and a performance center.
- PennDOT will supply $7.3 million for sidewalks and walkways to link Widener University to the city and local firms plus Delaware County are contributing about $2 million for demolition, lot acquisition, and repairs.
- Chester remains under a state-appointed receiver following its 2022 bankruptcy, so implementation, funding flows, and legal or administrative hurdles must be resolved before projects reach residents and businesses.