After nearly eight years of advocacy and working toward the goal, Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-49) is proud to announce Erie’s application for Pennsylvania’s City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) program has been approved.
“I have long seen the value of the CRIZ program as a redevelopment and economic stimulus tool, and have been an ardent advocate of a CRIZ designation in the City of Erie,” said Laughlin. “My thanks go out to my colleagues in the General Assembly, Gov. Josh Shapiro, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger, Revenue Secretary Pat Browne, Erie Mayor Joe Schember, the many other local officials involved in this process and Erie Insurance for their commitment to this initiative.”
Laughlin noted that getting the application approved before the end of the current calendar year allows the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue – which administers the program with DCED and the governor’s budget office – to use 2024 as the base year for tax collection purposes. That, in turn, means Erie’s CRIZ can get started a full year sooner, not having to wait until the end of 2025 to use that tax year’s figures.
A CRIZ is an area of up to 130 acres, comprised of parcels designated by a contracting authority, which provides economic development and job creation opportunities within a political subdivision. State and local taxes collected within the CRIZ are used to repay debt service to stimulate economic development projects within the CRIZ.
“A CRIZ is more than a designation; it is a catalyst for transformation and it provides the tools and incentives necessary to attract new businesses, spur economic development and, most importantly, create jobs,” Laughlin explained. “It allows us to revitalize our downtown, improve infrastructure and breathe new life into areas that have long been in need of investment.”
According to the Shapiro administration, nearly $15 million was returned to the three communities already participating in the CRIZ program — Lancaster, Bethlehem, and Tamaqua.
“We’ve seen throughout the years how successful the CRIZ program has been for Lancaster, Bethlehem and Tamaqua, taking state tax dollars resulting from local economic development expansion and directly returning that money to those communities for reinvestment and revitalization,” said Laughlin. “For Erie, this doesn’t just mean growth, this means a resurgence – a chance to reclaim our vibrant, thriving community.”
For more state-related news and information, constituents can visit Laughlin’s website at www.senatorlaughlin.com or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @senatorlaughlin.
