Lower Pottsgrove's municipal building.
SANATOGA PA – Could Lower Pottsgrove‘s use of a state law, which would allow it to reduce property taxes for businesses that make improvements within or move into a specific geographic area, help it attract more employers? That question may be explored tonight when the township Board of Commissioners meets at 7 in the municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd., Pottstown PA.
- This event has been added to The Post calendar.
The meeting is open to the public.
The board agenda, available here since before the Labor Day holiday, indicates it will discuss the potential of establishing a new Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act (LERTA) district somewhere inside township borders. A specific location is not named in the agenda.
The creation of LERTA districts was first recommended by a state economic development task force in the mid-1970s as a way to attract business development. Forming a district would permit the township and, if it also agrees, the Pottsgrove School District, to grant tax breaks for up to 10 years to companies that move into and physically improve properties or structures in an area the township has designated as “deteriorating.”
Exploring the possibilities of a LERTA district has been suggested by Carmen Italia, president of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corp., which the township hired in March (2010) as a consultant to help attract growth to properties surrounding the Sanatoga interchange of U.S. Route 422.
Also tonight, according to its agenda, the board plans to:
- Conduct a public hearing on 10 proposed amendments to the future land use map of the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Comprehensive Plan. The township is a member of the regional body, and is being asked in that role to consider approval of the plan changes.
- Consider a re-appointment to the township Planning Commission, and extending an offer of employment to a job candidate.
- Consider approval of snow plowing proposals for the coming winter season.
Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ meeting of Sept. 7):
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Good idea. Nice to see the township trying to attract business to our area. Let’s work to retain the ones we have as well.
I’ll second both thoughts, Ed. In fact, I’d even put the retention part first. Several studies during the past 30 years have demonstrated it’s easier (and cheaper) to keep businesses in town than to recruit new ones.