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Resolution authorizing the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to submit an application to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Keystone Communities Enterprise Zone Designation Program. (Council Districts: All).
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WHEREAS, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (“URA”) has prepared a Keystone Communities Enterprise Zone Designation Program application for re-designation, expansion of the current Enterprise Zone boundary approved under Resolution No. 217 of 2014, effective April 10, 2014, and administration of the program; and
WHEREAS, eligible projects can apply to the state for Enterprise Zone Tax credits in the expanded boundary; and
WHEREAS, this resolution expands the Enterprise Zone boundaries to the boundaries demonstrated in Exhibit “A” attached hereto;
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. URA is hereby authorized to file an application with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development under the Keystone Communities Enterprise Zone Designation Program (the “Program”) for re-designation and expansion of the current Enterprise Zone boundary.
Section 2. The City of Pittsburgh is willing to participate in the Program, approves the Five-Year Strategy developed by URA, and authorizes URA to represent the City.
The City of Pittsburgh requests all projects receiving an Enterprise Zone Coordinator Support Letter from URA demonstrate a good faith effort to meet the intended program guidelines of the State and align with the City of Pittsburgh’s economic development goals:
• Encouraging more entrepreneurship and small business development
o For this program, the City would like to see prioritization of minority, women, and employee-owned and businesses.
• Promoting inclusive growth and quality job creation
o For this program, the City would like to see prioritization of businesses that pay a living wage, and do require minimum one new job created per $50,000 in subsidy.
• Expanding neighborhood and main streets revitalization efforts
o For this program, the City would like to see prioritization of businesses located in an Avenue of Hope.
• Developing a talented workforce that is equipped with the skills of the future
o For this program, the City would like to see prioritization of projects with neighborhood-based or union-based workforce-development, job-training, or advanced skills development as a component of their business. A special priority should be given to programs that work with minority, women, and formally-incarcerated persons.
• Creating more housing that is affordable to the average Pittsburgher
o For this program, the City would like to see any mixed-use projects that support housing units, to prioritize inclusion of units at or below 120% AMI, with special consideration given for units included below 80% AMI.
The URA, as Pittsburgh’s Enterprise Zone coordinator, should prioritize applications that contribute to furthering these goals and any future identified priorities that can be defined through measurable community benefits. These metrics should be enumerated in the coordinator letter of support.