PRINTER'S NO. 973
No. 811 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY PISTELLA, DeWEESE, BEBKO-JONES, BELFANTI,
BIANCUCCI, CALTAGIRONE, CAWLEY, FABRIZIO, FICHTER, FREEMAN,
GEIST, GEORGE, GERGELY, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, JAMES, LEDERER,
MANN, PETRONE, READSHAW, REED, ROONEY, SAINATO, SATHER,
SCAVELLO, STABACK, STETLER, STURLA, THOMAS, TIGUE, WALKO,
WHEATLEY, WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 14, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, MARCH 14, 2005
AN ACT
1 Providing for a program to promote economic development in
2 downtown areas; establishing the Discover Pennsylvania's
3 Downtowns program; further providing for duties of the
4 Department of Community and Economic Development; and making
5 an appropriation.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Short title.
9 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Discover
10 Pennsylvania's Downtowns Act.
11 Section 2. Legislative findings and declaration.
12 The General Assembly finds and declares that downtown areas
13 throughout Pennsylvania offer unique cultural, business and
14 historic attractions. Each county should be afforded the
15 opportunity to market, promote and revitalize a downtown area
16 and to highlight the area's attractions. Improving the
17 infrastructure and encouraging economic development in downtown
1 areas could decrease crime, reduce unemployment and stabilize
2 shrinking tax bases. It is in the best interest of the
3 Commonwealth to facilitate the revitalization of downtown areas
4 within our communities.
5 Section 3. Definitions.
6 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
7 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
8 context clearly indicates otherwise:
9 "Applicant." The mayor for first class counties. The county
10 executive for second class counties. The county commissioners
11 for all other counties.
12 "Department." The Department of Community and Economic
13 Development of the Commonwealth.
14 "Downtown area." The central business district of a city,
15 borough or township which has traditionally served as a retail,
16 service, cultural and communal focal point within a community of
17 this Commonwealth.
18 Section 4. Establishment of program.
19 There is hereby established within the department the
20 Discover Pennsylvania's Downtowns program for the purpose of
21 making available to each county the opportunity to market,
22 promote and revitalize a downtown area.
23 Section 5. Powers and duties.
24 The department shall develop written guidelines and
25 promulgate regulations necessary to implement the Discover
26 Pennsylvania's Downtowns program. These guidelines and
27 regulations shall include, but not be limited to, a formal
28 notification procedure designed to advise each applicant how to
29 apply for funds. The regulations shall also include a $100,000
30 per county per fiscal year maximum funding limitation. More than
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1 one downtown area in each county may receive funding as long as
2 the total amount does not exceed $100,000 per county per fiscal
3 year.
4 Section 6. Appropriation.
5 The sum of $6,700,000, or as much thereof as may be
6 necessary, is appropriated to the Department of Community and
7 Economic Development for the fiscal year July 1, 2005, to June
8 30, 2006, for the Discover Pennsylvania's Downtowns program.
9 Section 7. Effective date.
10 This act shall take effect immediately.
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