Lycoming News

The January edition of the local TV program hosted by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) highlights the achievements and future objectives of the Tamaqua City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ). Argall, who authored the law enabling Tamaqua to apply for its CRIZ designation, has commended community partners for their efforts in revitalizing Tamaqua.

“When I was growing up in a ‘half a double’ on Arlington Street, I never could have imagined the progress we’ve seen in Tamaqua in the last few years,” said Argall. “Without the CRIZ and the hard work of so many members of the Tamaqua community, this transformation would not have been possible. While much remains to be done here, the benefits of the program continue for many more years. I hope we can take the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve revitalized Tamaqua and bring them to new towns, small and large, across the state.”

Tamaqua is currently unique in Pennsylvania with this designation, allowing it to use state tax payments for economic development. The Tamaqua CRIZ Authority recently guided state officials on a tour showcasing sites benefiting from these investments. These include the Perla Building, Child Development, Inc., Bischoff Inn, Tamaqua Train Station Restaurant, Boyer’s Food Market Complex, and Gimbel’s restaurant. As mentioned in this month’s “Argall Report,” plans are underway for a dental college and student housing to be established downtown by 2026 due to CRIZ.

“The state is once again opening the CRIZ initiative to new communities for the first time in many years due to bipartisan legislation I supported,” Argall continued. “My staff and I have reached out to communities throughout this Senate district in Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill counties to consider an application so that they too can take advantage of the benefits that have revitalized parts of downtown Tamaqua.”

This edition of "The Argall Report" will air on various platforms and is also available online at https://www.senatorargall.com/argallreport/.

For further information contact Jim Brugger.