The Tamaqua Community Revitalization and Improvement Zone received a record $1.6 million in state and local funding, based on 2022 revenues.

The announcement was made last week by Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Patrick M. Brown that Tamaqua received $1,596,307.50 in state and $32,588.04 in local funding.

The CRIZ program allows the Tamaqua CRIZ Authority to return incremental tax revenues generated by borough businesses and customers for reinvestment in the community. The funding being returned is based off the period from Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2022.

The 2022 receipt marks the second straight year of record awards to the borough CRIZ. In 2021, it received $1.1 million.

“This program is generating critical economic growth right in Pennsylvanians’ backyards,” Browne said. “In the decade that this program has existed, we are seeing encouraging results from the investments that have been made in the participating communities.”

Tamaqua is one of three municipalities in Pennsylvania with a CRIZ Zone. The others are Lancaster and Bethlehem. It is also the only borough in the program and serves as a pilot for smaller communities and potential future expansion of the program.

“Clearly our business community’s strength coupled with project revenue growth has been the driver of our second record year,” said Tamaqua CRIZ Authority Chairman Dan Evans.

He noted that the CRIZ is designed to create jobs and generate additional tax revenues that can be brought back for investment.

“The CRIZ Authority continues to see strong interest in Tamaqua from our local business community as well as interest on a regional level to locate here,” Evans said.

To date, the Tamaqua CRIZ Authority has completed seven acquisition, renovation and infrastructure projects with total public/private investment of $6.2 million, Evans said. Total CRIZ funding since its 2014 inception has returned $5,068,933 for reinvestment in Tamaqua’s CRIZ zone.

Evans thanked state Sen. Dave Argall and state Rep. Jamie Barton, along with Deana Zofsky of FourScore LLC of Allentown and all Tamaqua CRIZ partners for helping to make 2023 a success.

“I look forward to our continued business and revenue growth in 2024. Thank you again, Tamaqua,” Evans said.

CRIZ partners are required to submit an annual filing with the state, which contains the previous year’s state and local taxes. From there, the Department of Revenue calculates the funding level.

Tamaqua’s CRIZ compliance reporting for 2022 was 187 of 235 businesses, which represents an 80% reporting rate.

The returned funds can be used for debt service, property acquisition, new construction, and other costs related to development projects in the zone.

The CRIZ program is administered by the Department of Revenue, the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Governor’s Budget Office.