As commercial real estate activity continues to evolve across Central Pennsylvania, York County is gaining renewed attention as one of the region’s most important industrial growth corridors. Long recognized for its manufacturing and distribution base, the market west of Harrisburg is benefiting from strong interstate access, adaptable industrial inventory, redevelopment opportunities, and a growing mix of innovative tenants.
Among the businesses helping shape that momentum are women-owned companies that are not only occupying industrial space but also expanding the definition of how that space can be used.
A compelling example is Pink Recycling, led by COO and business co-owner Dineane Williams-Lilley. Operating from a 55,000-square-foot industrial facility in York, Pink Recycling reflects a modern evolution of the industrial sector by combining sustainability, upcycling, and operational scale within a property type traditionally associated with manufacturing, warehousing, or distribution.
Rather than fitting neatly into a conventional industrial category, Pink Recycling is part of a growing wave of companies rethinking the lifecycle of materials and goods. Through its upcycling-focused model, the company helps divert usable materials from waste streams and return them to productive use, supporting both environmental goals and business efficiency.
“What we are seeing in York is a broader shift in how industrial space is being evaluated,” said Jess, a commercial real estate expert focused on the Central Pennsylvania market. “Tenants are looking for buildings that can support logistics, production, reuse, and sustainability-driven operations all under one roof.”
– Jessica Lilly, MBA, Senior Associate
The scale of Pink Recycling’s operation also points to an important trend in the York market: demand for functional, flexible industrial space that can accommodate both traditional logistics users and non-traditional, mission-driven operators. As e-commerce, sustainability initiatives, and regional distribution needs continue to converge, facilities in the York corridor are attracting tenants that blur the line between industrial, environmental, and manufacturing uses.
Strengthened by direct access to I-83 and proximity to Harrisburg, Baltimore, and the broader Mid-Atlantic distribution network, York is positioned for continued industrial growth. Access to the Port of Baltimore further enhances the region’s appeal for companies engaged in international trade, providing a critical gateway for importing and exporting goods. What makes this evolution especially notable is the diversity of its users. Companies like Pink Recycling show that industrial real estate is no longer limited to warehousing or shipping alone; it is increasingly becoming a platform for innovation, reuse, and circular economy initiatives.
“York has the fundamentals industrial users want—access, workforce, building stock, and regional connectivity,” Jess added. “But the exciting part is watching companies use that foundation in new ways, especially women-led businesses that are bringing fresh business models into the market.”
– Jessica Lilly, MBA, Senior Associate
Dineane Williams-Lilley’s leadership underscores the broader theme of this series: women are not simply participating in commercial real estate markets; they are helping redefine them. Through strategic site selection, operational vision, and mission-driven growth, businesses like Pink Recycling are influencing how industrial assets are leased, adapted, and repurposed across the region.
As York continues to strengthen its position as an emerging industrial corridor outside Harrisburg, stories like Pink Recycling’s highlight the meaningful intersection of mission-driven business and large-scale industrial real estate.
This evolution also reinforces a larger point: women-led businesses are not confined to one asset class or geography. From upcycling and industrial reuse to professional services and healthcare, their influence extends across the full spectrum of commercial real estate in Central Pennsylvania. In the next installment of this series, we shift east toward the Camp Hill and greater West Shore office market, where stability, professional services, and healthcare-focused tenants continue to define demand—and where women-owned businesses are driving consistent, long-term occupancy across one of the region’s most established office corridors.