Posted: | December 23, 2014 03:57 PM |
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From: | Representative Stan Saylor |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Accelerating the City Revitalization and Improvement Zone Program Designation |
In the near future, I plan to re-introduce (House Bill 1962), legislation providing the Department of Community and Economic Development with the authority to approve two additional City Revitalization and Improvement Zones (CRIZ) for the 2015 calendar year. As you are aware the CRIZ program was created by Act 52 of 2013 to reinvigorate our small cities by revitalizing downtown areas and attracting new business development and growth within the city. Currently, the next round of CRIZ designations is set for 2016 but our small cities need this tool immediately. These are difficult economic times for these cities. If we do not act now and accelerate the application process to allow these cities to use every economic tool in their toolbox, I fear there will be larger financial hardships facing both the city and the state in the future. 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. Previous sponsors include: SCHREIBER, BIZZARRO, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, COHEN, CUTLER, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, GILLEN, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GROVE, HARHART, HARKINS, HELM, HICKERNELL, KIRKLAND, KOTIK, MACKENZIE, MILLARD, REGAN, SONNEY, STURLA, TALLMAN and THOMAS I hope you will join me in support of this legislation. |
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View Attachment |
Introduced as HB450