HARRISBURG – The Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee, chaired by State Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48), approved a bill today that would expand city revitalization efforts in Pennsylvania.
Act 52 of 2013 established the City Revitalization and Improvement Zones (CRIZ) Program which allows state and local taxes which are collected in the CRIZ to stay in the local community to spur economic development. The cities of Lancaster, Bethlehem and Tamaqua have all experienced economic improvement since being awarded a CRIZ.
Senate Bill 1014, introduced by Sen. Daniel Laughlin (R-49), would update the current requirements, and expand the eligibility for the CRIZ Program. The bill will now move on to the full senate for consideration.
“It only makes sense to build upon the success of programs like this that are working,” Gebhard stated. “I commend Sen. Laughlin for his extensive work on this and believe allowing communities to keep more of their own tax dollars is the type of economic development Pennsylvania needs.”
The meeting can be viewed at www.pasenategop.com.
CONTACT: Derek R. Clepper, Esq., 717-787-5708