KOZ program Rep. Burns spearheaded bears fruit in Cambria County
Job-creation assistance approved locally for three areas
Rep. Frank Burns September 13, 2024 | 1:39 PM
EBENSBURG, Sept. 13 – State Rep. Frank Burns, who spearheaded creation of 375 acres of Keystone Opportunity Zone in Cambria County by ensuring it was included in the 2019 state budget, is commending county and school district officials’ recent actions to take advantage of the job-creating program.
Burns, D-Cambria, said the Cambria County commissioners and Central Cambria School District board of directors have agreed to the required temporary tax relief in exchange for business development of KOZ acreage in Elder and Cambria townships, and Hastings Borough.
“It’s heartening to see this valuable tool taking hold the way I envisioned it back in 2019 when I pushed my leadership and the governor’s office hard to make sure Cambria County finally got a KOZ program,” Burns said. “I made sure we had a level playing field with the rest of Pennsylvania when it came to offering state and local tax benefits in exchange for business investment and job creation.
“I did my part as an elected official in Harrisburg. But those at the local level had a part to play, too. This is truly working together to get things done, and I thank all of those who recently voted to put the KOZ concept to work in Cambria County.
““This is really an economic development tool, and I’m glad to see municipalities and school districts taking advantage of the opportunity.”
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“I’ve made sure Cambria County is competitive with the rest of the state in what it can offer for business growth, and that effort is now bearing fruit.” – Rep. Frank Burns
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In addition to making sure Cambria County’s KOZ would allow for parcels smaller than 10 acres – a novel move that helps cities and small boroughs take full advantage of the program – Burns secured an additional 200 acres of Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone in 2023, including 80 acres within Franklin Borough.
Even though the KOZ and KOEZ programs are universally recognized as important tools for economic development and putting blighted properties back into productive use, making them ideal positives for aiding Cambria County, Burns said his effort has been bereft of support from logical organizations like the Redevelopment Authority of Cambria County, the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, Vision Together 2025 and the Cambria Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s tragic for the community that over the past five years, I’ve not gotten one iota of support or encouragement, or one offer of partnership – spoken or written – from anyone affiliated with any of those organizations,” Burns said. “They hold themselves out as economic development groups, but they’re only vocal on what their idea of economic development is.
“If it’s not their idea, you don’t hear a peep from them. It seems that if they can’t take advantage of it themselves, they’re not for it.”