Civil Municipal - June 2024

and to make Tamaqua a better place to live and to work.” INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE As Tamaqua celebrates its downtown revitalization, it also recognizes the importance of investing in infrastructure and initiating projects such as the $20 million in upgrades to the sewer treatment facility. “Within the next couple of years, we’re going to see a massive renovation of our sewage treatment plant. That’s a testament to the sewage treatment plant workers and operators, Borough Council who was able to work to get this funding in the door, and thanks to our state representative and state senator, and as well the governor for getting us that critical funding to get the project done,” asserts the mayor. On the residential side, Tamaqua remains committed to addressing housing needs, through initiatives like the Upper Storey Revitalization Project, a pilot program through the state, aimed at repurposing existing buildings for mixed residential and commercial use. “Tamaqua doesn’t necessarily have the acreage for new housing developments that some other places might, but all of our main streets throughout town are made up of multi-storey buildings. So, you may have a pizza shop downstairs and the upstairs is vacant,” Gerace relays. “This pilot program provides funding for the upper story revitalization, which will allow private business owners to take advantage of state grant dollars so that they can turn it into market-rate housing.” Gerace proudly shares that the community will also be welcoming a new police station to house the 9 full-time and 8 part-time members of the force. He boasts, “In an era where you’re seeing a lot of communities lose their policing, Tamaqua has been growing strong. This project will be a beacon in the downtown. Not only is it going to be a new police station, but it’s also going to be a new community center.” The Tamaqua Police Force exemplifies community strength and safety, and officers engage proactively with residents, fostering trust and cooperation. CRIZ - stands for City Revitalization and Improvement Zone and Tamaqua was selected as the only borough in the CRIZ pilot program at the borough level. Tamaqua CRIZ Authority - incorporated by the borough in 2014 to administrate a state sponsored pilot program at the borough level. Tamaqua CRIZ is a tax incentive finance program, also known as a TIF, which allows various PA state tax dollars generated by our business community to be returned to Tamaqua for Broad St. redevelopment. To date Tamaqua CRIZ has returned $5.7m in funding and has supported 8 projects totaling $5.8m in CRIZ and private investment. Bischoff Inn - is a CRIZ project, acquisition and renovation of the 1850’s Bischoff Furniture Factory into a 5 room boutique hotel. In 2023, the Bischoff Inn project was recognized by Preservation PA in the rehabilitation category. CRIZ 111 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 06 TAMAQUA, PA