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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 4, 2019 03:06 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Jay Costa and Sen. Patrick M. Browne, Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Creative Districts Study Resolution |
| In the near future, we will be introducing a resolution directing the Joint State Government Committee (JSGC) to conduct a study of creative districts. Creative districts are hubs of artistic and economic activity that can be used as a tool for community, economic, and recreational development. The study will instruct the JSGC to provide a study to the Legislature within six months that identifies a baseline assessment of existing creative districts around the state and quantify the economic, cultural, and creative activity that they generate today. It will further ask for legislative, regulatory, and policy recommendations that might be used to accelerate the benefits that the districts can provide in our communities. Lastly, the study will search for best practices used in other states that encourage districts to grow and be more productive. The arts industry strengthens the economy of this Commonwealth by generating $3.4 billion in total economic activity annually and $400 million in state and local government revenue and by supporting the full-time equivalent of 100,000 jobs that produce $2.2 billion in household income. Providing centers of activity will only help to boost the potential of the arts and culture industry in our state and in our communities. We have personally seen the benefits that creative districts can have on cities and neighborhoods. The Pittsburgh Cultural District is credited with taking part in and encouraging Pittsburgh’s economic resurgence, and providing a foundation for the City’s Downtown neighborhood to grow upon. In Johnstown, the Cambria City neighborhood are beginning to see some of the first signs of a similar transition. And as part of the revitalization of Allentown, the community is enjoys a vibrant and historical arts district. It's important that we study the successful of these corridors and find ways to replicate them to the benefit of communities across the state. Please join us by co-sponsoring the legislation. |
Introduced as SR193