A bill to “modernize and streamline the Neighborhood Improvement District Act and allow for the development of a Tourism Improvement District in Allegheny County” was approved Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Senate.
The bill (SB797), introduced by State Senator Devlin Robinson (R-Bridgeville), passed through the Senate without a single “no” vote. The bill now goes to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for consideration.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in devastating consequences for the tourism and hospitality industries and Southwestern Pennsylvania is no exception,” State Senator Robinson said in a statement. “So many of the sites and attractions that make Pittsburgh a great place to visit have suffered immeasurable challenges. It is my hope that Senate Bill 797 can help Pennsylvania’s tourism industry on its road to recovery.”
In 2000, the Pennsylvania General Assembly authorized the Neighborhood Improvement District Act, providing municipalities with tools to generate economic development projects.
Now, Senator Robinson’s update to the Neighborhood Improvement District Act would include Allegheny County as an eligible jurisdiction and provide much of the simplified process and flexibility already afforded to Neighborhood Improvement District authorization in Philadelphia County, according to a press release by the Pennsylvania Senate Republicans.
“Modernizing the system, simplifying the process, and allowing other communities to participate will provide much needed momentum for reviving our economy,” Senator Robinson further expressed in a statement.
In September, the Pennsylvania Senate Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee held a hearing on Robinson’s bill, in which speakers pointed out that local economic dynamics and policy needs have changed significantly over the years. Similarly, Robinson noted that the pandemic has resulted in devastating consequences for the tourism and hospitality industries throughout Pennsylvania, especially in areas which rely heavily on attracting tourists, groups and organizations through promotion of available amenities and attractions.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Star News Network.
