According to Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, nearly half of the 600 businesses in Pennsylvania that received more than $200 million in grants and loans failed to meet job creation goals. DePasquale made the audit report announcement on Wednesday in Harrisburg.
The report looked at the Department of Community and Economic Development's job creation programs. Auditors found that only 56% of the businesses awarded with help actually created and/or retained all the jobs promised in exchange for financial assistance from the commonwealth.
"We`re falling further behind, even as more people are entering the workforce and finding employment and that is going to be our big challenge to employers, " DePasquale said, "How do we convert our low unemployment rate in Pennsylvania, making sure those are good family sustained jobs?"
Recommendations to the DCED include establishing performance measures or goals for the job creation programs and monitoring and verifying job creation data for all businesses awarded loans.
