PRINTER'S NO. 1474
No. 1301 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY MUNDY, DeWEESE, TANGRETTI, CARONE, ITKIN, HALUSKA,
ROONEY, COLAIZZO, KREBS, STURLA, LEVDANSKY, COY, BELARDI,
MANDERINO, GORDNER, LUCYK, WALKO, McCALL, BATTISTO, SANTONI,
JOSEPHS, TRAVAGLIO, VAN HORNE, BEBKO-JONES, SCRIMENTI, OLASZ,
LAUGHLIN, DALEY, TRICH, PESCI, MELIO, SHANER, GRUITZA,
PETRARCA, C. WILLIAMS, STEELMAN, RAMOS, DeLUCA, L. I. COHEN,
BROWNE, CURRY, SAINATO AND THOMAS, APRIL 14, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, APRIL 14, 1997
AN ACT
1 Providing for a community revitalization program, for grants
2 supporting local initiatives to improve stability of
3 communities and to enhance local economic conditions;
4 defining certain targeted communities; providing for
5 eligibility requirements and application procedures; and
6 further providing for duties of the Department of Community
7 and Economic Development.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Short title.
11 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Community
12 Revitalization Act.
13 Section 2. Findings and declaration of policy.
14 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
15 (1) The future welfare of this Commonwealth depends on
16 establishing and maintaining viable communities, both rural
17 and urban, as social, economic and political entities and
18 requiring Commonwealth action to eliminate blight, to
1 conserve and renew older areas and to improve the living
2 environment of low-income and moderate-income families.
3 (2) The future welfare of this Commonwealth depends on
4 preventing and eliminating blight of property, neighborhoods
5 and community facilities of importance to the welfare of a
6 community.
7 (3) The future welfare of this Commonwealth depends on
8 expanding and improving the quantity and quality of community
9 services necessary for the development of a sound and viable
10 community.
11 (4) The future welfare of this Commonwealth depends on
12 alleviating physical and economic distress through the
13 stimulation of community revitalization, especially within
14 certain targeted communities, by encouraging private
15 investment in these communities to create a diversified yet
16 stable economy within them.
17 Section 3. Definitions.
18 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
19 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
20 context clearly indicates otherwise:
21 "Department." The Department of Community and Economic
22 Development of the Commonwealth.
23 "Targeted communities." Any of the following entities:
24 (1) Enterprise zones established under the act of July
25 9, 1986 (P.L.1216, No.108), known as the Enterprise Zone
26 Municipal Tax Exemption Reimbursement Act.
27 (2) Distressed communities as defined under the act of
28 July 10, 1987 (P.L.246, No.47), known as the Municipalities
29 Financial Recovery Act.
30 (3) Communities notified under the early warning system
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1 pursuant to the Municipalities Financial Recovery Act.
2 (4) Areas designated by the Federal Government as
3 empowerment zones or enterprise communities.
4 (5) Counties with an unemployment rate at least 150%
5 above the seasonally adjusted Statewide average unemployment
6 rate as determined by the Department of Labor and Industry.
7 (6) Any geographical area which has been designated as a
8 targeted community by the department due to one or more
9 adverse economic factors within that area.
10 Section 4. Establishment of program.
11 There is hereby established within the department the
12 Community Revitalization Program for the purpose of supporting
13 local initiatives to improve the stability of communities and
14 enhance local economic conditions especially in certain targeted
15 communities.
16 Section 5. Eligibility.
17 (a) Entities which may apply.--The following entities are
18 eligible to apply for grants from the Community Revitalization
19 Program:
20 (1) Political subdivisions, excluding school districts,
21 or any of their instrumentalities.
22 (2) Industrial development authorities and corporations
23 established in accordance with the act of May 17, 1956 (1955
24 P.L.1609, No.537), known as the Pennsylvania Industrial
25 Development Authority Act.
26 (3) Redevelopment authorities established in accordance
27 with the act of May 24, 1945 (P.L.991, No.385), known as the
28 Urban Redevelopment Law.
29 (4) Local development districts established in
30 accordance with the act of December 7, 1994 (P.L.845,
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1 No.120), known as the Local Development District Act.
2 (b) Priority.--Applicants for eligible uses located within
3 targeted communities shall have priority for receiving grants
4 over those applicants for eligible uses located outside any
5 targeted community.
6 Section 6. Eligible uses.
7 Eligible uses for grants awarded under this act shall
8 include:
9 (1) Job training or technology costs.
10 (2) Construction or rehabilitation of infrastructure.
11 (3) Acquisition of land, buildings and rights-of-way.
12 (4) Rehabilitation or restoration of older or under-
13 utilized buildings for immediate use.
14 (5) Acquisition, demolition or rehabilitation of
15 blighted structures.
16 (6) Rehabilitation or construction of a community
17 facility.
18 (7) Site preparation, including demolition and
19 clearance.
20 Section 7. Requirements.
21 To be eligible for assistance, an applicant must meet the
22 requirements set forth in this act, any regulations promulgated
23 under section 11 and any terms and conditions which the
24 department may deem necessary to administer a specific grant
25 awarded under this act.
26 Section 8. Types of assistance.
27 (a) Grants.--The department may award grants to an applicant
28 for any of the eligible uses set forth under section 6.
29 (b) Grants to community organizations.--The department may
30 award grants to an applicant, which the applicant in turn may
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1 give to community organizations or nonprofit corporations
2 incorporated under Pennsylvania law, which provide economic
3 development services, services to remove blight or services to
4 develop facilities which enhance the economic conditions of the
5 community.
6 Section 9. Application procedures.
7 (a) Letter of intent.--An application for a grant under this
8 act shall be initiated through a letter of intent by the
9 applicant. The letter of intent shall also indicate if the
10 applicant intends to use a grant award pursuant to section 8(b).
11 (b) Application.--An applicant may submit the letter of
12 intent along with a request for an application to the
13 department. Upon receipt of this information and a preliminary
14 determination of eligibility, the department shall provide an
15 applicant with the application materials.
16 (c) Evaluation.--Upon receipt of a complete application, the
17 department shall review the application based on the following
18 criteria:
19 (1) The number of full-time equivalent jobs that will be
20 created or retained and the amount of additional State and
21 local tax revenues that will be directly generated by the
22 grant.
23 (2) For targeted communities, the creation of
24 opportunities to develop new facilities or expansion of
25 existing facilities by eliminating, reducing or otherwise
26 alleviating blight.
27 (d) Schedule.--The department shall establish a schedule for
28 processing, accepting and reviewing applications for grants for
29 each fiscal year which shall be published in the Pennsylvania
30 Bulletin prior to accepting any applications for that fiscal
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1 year.
2 Section 10. Funding allocation for targeted communities.
3 A minimum of 20% of the funds appropriated under the
4 Community Revitalization Program shall be awarded as grants to
5 eligible applicants for eligible uses located within targeted
6 communities. If any portion of this allocation remains unused by
7 January 1 of each year, then it may be awarded as grants to
8 other eligible applicants.
9 Section 11. Guidelines.
10 The department shall develop written guidelines and
11 promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of the
12 Community Revitalization Program and shall publish them in the
13 Pennsylvania Bulletin. The department may not approve any grants
14 under this act until such publication of the written guidelines
15 of the program.
16 Section 12. Effective date.
17 This act shall take effect July 1, 1997, or immediately,
18 whichever is later.
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