Philadelphia region among U.S. leaders in attracting corporate investment

The Philadelphia region has placed seventh on a list of large metropolitan areas attracting corporate investment.

That’s good news for a city that hasn’t always led the pack.

Trade publication Site Selection said the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Camden area has a large number of big projects going forward. Not as many as the New York City region, but more than the metro areas of Washington, D.C., or Atlanta.

That sounds about right, according to Jim Shannon, chief marketing officer for Select Philadelphia.

“I think there’s some green shoots out here,” Shannon said. “I want to say there seems to be a little more action than there’s been. The economy, I think, has slowed down a lot of companies’ plans to move.

“And now we’re starting to see a lot of talk,” he said. “And what’s good is, they’re starting to include greater Philadelphia in that talk.”

Philadelphia did not make the top-10 list last year. Pittsburgh also made this year’s list, at No. 3.