Posted: | January 8, 2014 02:56 PM |
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From: | Representative Stan Saylor |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Accelerating the City Revitalization and Improvement Zone Program Designation |
Recently, Governor Corbett awarded two City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) Program designations to the cities of Bethlehem and Lancaster. As you know, the CRIZ program was created by Act 52 of 2013 to spur new growth in cities struggling to attract development, revitalize downtown areas, create jobs, and improve the lives of city residents. To accelerate and boost the economies of eligible cities that are the very foundation of the Commonwealth’s economy, I will be introducing legislation providing the Department of Community and Economic Development with the authority to approve two additional zones during the 2014 calendar year. As the law is currently written, the next round of approving applicants is set for 2016. To maximize the benefits to these struggling communities and provide them with another tool to reconstruct their local development abilities, it is crucial we step up the time period for approving additional applicants. Vacant, desolate, underutilized or abandoned space need to be developed, thereby creating jobs, increasing personal incomes, growing state and local tax revenues, reviving local economies and improving the lives of city residents and visitors. Cities eligible to apply for CRIZ designation based on local economic indicators include Altoona, Bethlehem, Erie, Lancaster, Reading, Wilkes-Barre and York. Delaware County, a home rule county, is also eligible to apply for a CRIZ designation for the City of Chester. I hope you will consider joining me in support of this legislation. |
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Introduced as HB1962