Nuclear innovation company chose Philadelphia’s Bellwether District over hundreds of other sites across the U.S. for this new facility; $450 million project will create at least 225 new jobs and further boost Pennsylvania’s economy and robust life sciences industry.
Philadelphia, PA – MAY 6, 2026 – Today, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, City of Philadelphia, federal and industry leaders joined TerraPower Isotopes at a groundbreaking ceremony for the nuclear innovation company’s new radioisotope manufacturing facility that will help develop cancer-fighting drugs in Philadelphia’s Bellwether District, an HRP Group project. The $450 million project, announced by Governor Josh Shapiro in March, will create at least 225 new jobs in Pennsylvania’s strong life sciences industry.
TerraPower Isotopes’ 250,000-square-foot facility will produce actinium-225 for use in the development of cancer treatments. The company will be another major tenant at the Bellwether District, a 1,300-acre state-of-the-art commercial redevelopment project underway in South and Southwest Philadelphia that is reimagining the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery into a hub for economic development, advanced manufacturing, and innovation.
Before selecting The Bellwether District, TerraPower Isotopes evaluated more than 350 potential sites across the United States in a rigorous site selection process that included 49 site visits in eight metropolitan areas.
Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger highlighted Pennsylvania’s $10 million investment supporting the project: “Pennsylvania is aggressively competing for – and winning – major innovation projects, and today’s groundbreaking with TerraPower Isotopes is proof of that,” said Secretary Siger. “Our strategic $10 million grant helped to secure more than $450 million in private investment that will create hundreds of high-quality jobs, further positioning Pennsylvania as a national and global leader in life sciences.”
The funding proposal provided by DCED to TerraPower Isotopes included a $7 million grant through the PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) Program, and a $3 million Pennsylvania First grant. The Commonwealth has also invested an additional $40 million in Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Funds to support improvements to state roadways to facilitate the integration of the Bellwether District site into the surrounding transportation network. Additionally, because The Bellwether District is in a Keystone Opportunity Zone with a term that runs through 2043, the company will also receive those tax benefits.
“TerraPower was created to improve the world through nuclear energy and science. Breaking ground today on the Bellwether Laboratory represents a defining chapter in TerraPower’s history—and in the history of actinium-225 manufacturing,” said Chris Levesque, President and CEO, TerraPower. “This new flagship, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will produce actinium-225 at a scale the industry has never seen before, providing global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with the reliable, large-volume supply they need to advance their clinical programs and ultimately expand cancer treatment options for patients.”
“Today, TerraPower Isotopes celebrates breaking ground on the world’s most advanced actinium-225 manufacturing site,” said Scott Claunch, President, TerraPower Isotopes. “The Bellwether Laboratory is purpose-built to meet the needs of a growing industry that is working to transform how cancer is treated. With a highly trained and dedicated team, we are thrilled to be building our flagship facility right here in Philadelphia.”
The Bellwether District is a project of HRP Group, a vertically integrated real estate investment company focused on the transformation of complex industrial sites.
“HRP is in the business of transformation, and we’re not afraid to take bold, strategic action to achieve real results,” said Roberto Perez, Chief Executive Officer, HRP Group. “Today marks another milestone for our company’s track record of vision and execution. We are proud to join with leaders and pioneers who know how to think big and get things done.”
HRP is transforming the former industrial site into a global model of sustainable development and design. Comprising nearly two percent of the city’s landmass, the site is less than three miles from Center City, Philadelphia International Airport, I-95, and I-76, and less than five miles from PhilaPort, with connectivity to existing rail and maritime infrastructure.
“Today isn’t just the start of a construction project; it’s the start of an ecosystem where a changing landscape will change lives,” said Andrew Chused, Chief Investment Officer, HRP Group. "At HRP, unabashed optimism and the relentless pursuit of what’s possible are in our DNA, and in TerraPower Isotopes we’ve found an innovator who shares that commitment to breaking boundaries and solving the unsolvable. Their decision to locate at The Bellwether District and advance the next wave of targeted alpha therapies builds on Philadelphia’s legacy of innovation and strengthens its world-class ecosystem.”
Last December, canned beverage manufacturer DrinkPAK announced that they are establishing a 1.4-million square-foot manufacturing facility in The Bellwether District that will serve as the company’s flagship manufacturing facility on the East Coast.
About TerraPower Isotopes
TerraPower Isotopes (TPI) is a mission-driven organization, founded by Bill Gates and a group of likeminded visionaries to solve global challenges using nuclear science. The TPI team applies innovative expertise and proven development methods to providing a secure isotope supply chain for targeted alpha therapies development. TerraPower Isotopes is increasing global access to Actinium-225, supporting industry by developing advanced radioisotope generators that enable the efficient and automated extraction of rare isotopes with life-saving potential.
About The Bellwether District
The Bellwether District is a 1300-acre state-of-the-art industrial and innovation campus in South and Southwest Philadelphia. HRP Group is transforming the former industrial site into a global model of sustainable development and design. For more information about The Bellwether District, visit www.thebellwetherdistrict.com.
About HRP Group
HRP Group is a vertically integrated, multi-strategy real estate investment company specializing in the transformation of obsolete industrial sites into modern logistics infrastructure, mixed-use destinations, and pioneering innovation hubs. The firm takes a holistic approach to value creation that prioritizes community, environmental, and economic sustainability. For more information, visit www.hrpgroup.com.
