Rick Siger

Secretary of Community and Economic Development • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger spearheads the Commonwealth’s efforts to grow our economy and build a better future for all Pennsylvanians.

In January 2024, Rick and Governor Josh Shapiro delivered on their promise to create Pennsylvania’s Economic Development Strategy ― the first comprehensive plan of its kind to guide the Commonwealth’s economic growth in almost 20 years.

Rick led the effort to develop the strategy, working for months with the DCED team to obtain extensive input from partners in local government, the private sector, the economic development community, labor, higher education, and the nonprofit sector. The 10-year strategy will help the Commonwealth reach its full economic potential and ensure every Pennsylvanian has the opportunity to succeed by focusing on five key sectors: Agriculture, Energy, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and Robotics and Technology.

Rick is committed to growing good-paying jobs across the Commonwealth, helping small businesses and local communities thrive, spurring innovation, and making Pennsylvania a national leader in economic and community development.

Prior to his role as Secretary, Rick served as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the President at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh and led CMU’s growth strategy at Hazelwood Green, a former Pittsburgh industrial site re-envisioned as a new model for economic development and translational research.

Rick served President Barack Obama for more than seven years in multiple roles, including as Chief of Staff at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Deputy Chief of Staff at the Department of Commerce. He also worked as former Governor Tim Kaine’s Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Rick was born and raised in Pittsburgh and holds a BA from Columbia University.