The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and Keystone Space Collaborative announced a strategic affiliation July 15 to advance Pennsylvania’s role in the growing space economy, including creation of a Tri-State Space Council involving Ohio and West Virginia.
The announcement was made at the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit hosted by U.S. Senator Dave McCormick at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle.
“Pennsylvania has the talent, entrepreneurial spirit, and industrial strength to lead the next era of the space economy,” said Luke Bernstein, President and CEO of the PA Chamber. “We’re proud to welcome Keystone Space to our organization and build on the strong foundation it has established. By partnering with our counterparts in Ohio and West Virginia, we’re creating a powerful regional coalition that can compete for investment, attract talent, advance innovation, and secure new opportunities for businesses throughout the Commonwealth and the broader region.”
The affiliation combines Keystone Space’s industry expertise with the PA Chamber’s statewide advocacy and business leadership network. The organizations said the partnership focuses on aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, research, technology innovation, and commercial space development.
“When we launched, our vision was to unite the region around the opportunities created by the space economy,” said Justine Kasznica, Board Chair and Founder of the Keystone Space Collaborative. “By joining forces with the PA Chamber while strengthening our partnerships in Ohio and West Virginia, we’re building on that foundation with the resources and regional collaboration needed to accelerate innovation, attract investment, and ensure our Tri-State region remains competitive on the national stage.”
The PA Chamber and Keystone Space have collaborated in recent years to promote Pennsylvania’s aerospace sector, including partnering with Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis to launch Pennsylvania Aerospace and Aviation Day at the Capitol. The event brought together business leaders, policymakers, educators, and industry stakeholders.
The organizations plan to formalize a Memorandum of Understanding among the Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia chambers of commerce to establish the Tri-State Space Council. The council will serve as a coordinated platform for business leaders, policymakers, economic development organizations, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders.
The Tri-State Space Council will focus on workforce development and talent pipeline initiatives, industry analysis and market intelligence, economic development and business attraction strategies, research and development collaboration, federal funding opportunities, and supply chain development and commercialization efforts.
