Prime Industrial and Business Development Land

Franklin Township and Washington Township's targeted-growth, industrial and commercial development zone provides more than 450 acres of Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) (virtually tax free until 2010) and LERTA (5-year tax abatement) development property.

This block of development property adjoins the I-79 and US Rt. 6N Interstate interchange.

Utilities are adjacent to and can be extended into this area.

North of and adjacent to the KOZ are 216 conductors of fiber optic internet backbone.

Contact Information

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What is a Keystone Opportunity Zone:

Keystone Opportunity Zones are defined areas with greatly reduced or no tax burden for business and industry. KOZ's have been designated by local communities and approved by the state--they are, in fact, a partnership between each community and region among state and local taxing bodies, school districts, economic development agencies and community-based organizations.

Over 10,000 new jobs have been created since the initial KOZ program began in 1999, and the number is growing rapidly.

Recognizing the success of the KOZ program, Pennsylvania provided communities one more opportunity to take advantage of what Business Facilities magazine calls the Number 1 Economic Development Strategy in the nation, by creating additional Keystone Opportunity Zones.

Following are some of the specifics behind the Keystone Opportunity Zones:

To be considered as a Keystone Opportunity Zone, a site must have:

• Displayed through a vision/strategy statement how this property through targeted growth could impact the aforementioned positively;

• Displayed evidence of adverse economic and socioeconomic conditions within the proposed zone such as high poverty rates, high unemployment rates, percentage of abandoned or underutilized property, and/or population loss;

• Passed binding resolutions or ordinances forgoing certain taxes; this included school districts, county and municipal governments.

• Public and private commitment of resources;

• Linkages to regional community and economic development activities including Team Pennsylvania and initiatives under the DCED's Center for Community Building;

• A written plan discussing the implementation of quality school improvements and local crime reduction measures

• And a demonstrated cooperation from surrounding municipalities.

Zone Acreage

• Franklin Township's KOZ is approximately 167 acres.

Tax Liability

Binding ordinances and resolutions were passed granting the waiver, abatement or exemption of certain state and local taxes. Depending on the situation, the tax burden may be reduced to zero through exemptions, deductions, abatements, and credits for the following:

• State Taxes: Corporate Net Income Taxes, Capital Stock & Foreign Franchise Tax, Personal Income Tax, Sales & Use Tax, Bank Shares and Trust Company Shares Tax, Alternative Bank and Trust Company Shares Tax, Mutual Thrift Institutions Tax, Insurance Premiums Tax

• Local Taxes: Earned Income/Net Profits Tax, Business Gross Receipts, Business Occupancy, Business Privilege & Mercantile Taxes, Local Real Property Tax, Sales & Use Tax

Length of Tax Relief

• KOZ status is retained until December 31, 2010.

• Afterwards, the KOZ preferential tax treatment will expire. Please check with the specific Zone Coordinator for each property deadline.

Impact

• Properties selected as KOZs have generated minimal state and local taxable revenue. The KOZ designation is expected to attract development where little or no activity existed beforehand. This development may produce spin-off taxable activity outside the designated zone.

• KOZ properties along with any development will become fully taxable after commencing the day after the designation expires (January 1, 2011).

Administration

The Department of Community and Economic Development will provide the organizational framework including the certification and operations of KOZ. The local jurisdictions will designate a single point of contact for zone facilitation.

Priority considerations

Projects in Keystone Opportunity Zones shall receive priority consideration for State assistance under State community and economic development programs as well as community building initiatives. Projects in designated KOZ's that are approved for Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA), or Small Business Financing shall receive the lowest interest rate extended to borrowers.

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Aerial Photo

Plot Plan

971 KB PDF

KOZ Area Zoning

36 KB PDF

Another Aerial Photo

460 KB PDF