(The Center Square) – Lawmakers from Philadelphia and across the commonwealth gathered in the Capitol Monday to garner support for the state’s tourism efforts for America250 and other upcoming events.
A coalition of organizations from across the state have asked for $36 million on top of the $64 million proposed in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget.
At $100 million, the state would surpass spending planned in Virginia and New Jersey, states also committed to ringing in the nation’s semiquincentennial.
The upcoming MLB All Star game in July will be an early test of the Philadelphia region’s capacity to absorb an influx of tourists from around the world. In 2026, beyond the America250 celebrations, the state will play host to the FIFA World Cup, the PGA Championship, and the NFL Draft.
“We have some celebratory events that talk about the history of the country, and we recognize that this is a moment that can really put the commonwealth in a position to be able to benefit economically if we handle 2026 the right way and if we invest in Industries the right way,” said Philadelphia City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas. “So our focal point is not just 2026, but it’s 2026 and Beyond.”
The celebration has been a passion project for Rep. Jared Solomon, D-Philadelphia, who began trying to galvanize lawmakers in 2018.
“I don’t think anyone ever thought it would actually arrive. I think folks thought you could push 2026 back. But here we are, and we have just an opportunity that we might not be able to grasp at ever again,” said Solomon. “If you look back at prior celebrations, not just Philly but the whole commonwealth welcomed the rest of the world to Pennsylvania.”
One major area of need in Philadelphia is the region’s mass transit system, SEPTA. Legislators say that infrastructure support will be critical, not only to host international visitors accustomed to high-functioning transit, but also to move the people of Philadelphia whose work and lives make the city a tourist destination.
“I think it’s also important that we’re looking ahead so that we can not have this year-to-year battle over how much money we’re giving to mass transit, because if you look at it, mass transit with greater mass transit, more trains and more buses across the entire state, would actually really help Pennsylvania,” said Tourism, Recreation and Economic Development committee Chair Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Merion Station. “It would help it with tourism. It would help them with workforce development. It would help in so many ways.”
Daley and others emphasized that mass transit, and the celebration of the nation’s founding, aren’t limited to the Philadelphia region. All 67 counties offer some kind of public transit, and all of them are conducting different historical and cultural events to mark the occasion.
“The mission is to make 2026 epic. We’re all working on that,” said Daley’s co-chair, Rep. Lee James, R-Seneca, speaking about educational efforts ongoing in schools throughout the state which brought Benjamin Franklin and Miss Pennsylvania to his district in Cranberry.
Even with the ball rolling on school outreach and planting liberty trees, there are several projects that hang in the balance of new funding commitments, like a proposed sports museum in Philadelphia.
“If we’re not thinking creatively, if we’re not being Innovative about what our investment in 2026 looks like, it’s going to be a situation where the window opens and closes, and nothing will change,” said Thomas.
Asked whether travel bans, icy relationships with allies, and the current climate within the United States might deter international visitors, lawmakers were optimistic.
“From the seat that I’m sitting at, we anticipate tourism being on fire,” said Thomas, who noted the latest projections expect 700,000 visitors to Philadelphia alone in June and July of next year.
