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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 18, 2015 03:20 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Rosita C. Youngblood |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Additional reforms to the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that would reform the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to bring greater accountability and transparency to the grant process. Although RACP funding is essential in helping to bring large scale economic development projects to communities across the Commonwealth, and some of the reforms I introduced last session were adopted into law, it is evident that there is still a significant lack of transparency and accountability with this program. Primarily, the Commonwealth must ensure that a community’s voice is a recognized and encouraged element of the process, and that information about all projects is shared with the public. Specifically, this proposal would require all RACP projects to undergo at least one public informational meeting in the community where the project will be built. Furthermore, the legislation would require the Office of the Budget to post on its public website RACP reports currently required to be distributed to the Appropriations Committee chairmen of the House and Senate. The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is a vital component to our state’s economic development initiatives, and it is important that we provide funding to help our communities grow. However, we must ensure that there is significant accountability and transparency to the process, including a forum for our communities. Any questions or concerns, please contact my office at 717-772-9920. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation. Thank you in advance for your consideration. |
Introduced as HB1043