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Pennsylvania State Senate
11/08/2024 11:24 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20230&chamber=S&cosponId=42922
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: June 25, 2024 11:03 AM
From: Senator Judith L. Schwank
To: All Senate members
Subject: Designating a CRIZ to the City of Reading and Implementing Recommended Changes
 
The City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) program was established as a means to spur growth in cities, revive downtowns, generate new jobs for residents, and attract development. The CRIZ has proven to be a powerful tool in areas such as Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Tamaqua.

While the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is authorized to approve two additional CRIZ applications each calendar year, the Department has not approved an application for an additional zone since 2015. It is long overdue that the City of Reading, a perfect contender for such an influential program, is able to utilize this powerful tool.

This legislation aims to designate a CRIZ to the City of Reading as well as implement the recommended changes for the program to progress for other cities in the Commonwealth. A few of these changes would include expanding CRIZ eligibility, allowing more local flexibility in determining CRIZ projects, and requiring annual performance reporting for active CRIZ zones. The CRIZ has proven to be an exceptional tool in the Commonwealth, but unfortunately, we have not been utilizing this tool to its full extent.

With a view towards the future of our struggling cities and of the Commonwealth’s economic development, I am proud to introduce legislation to rejuvenate the CRIZ program and designate the City of Reading as the Commonwealth’s next CRIZ. I ask my colleagues to join me in co-sponsoring this important measure.