Civil Municipal - June 2024

more residents by providing financial incentives for building single homes, townhomes, and apartment buildings. Joseph Zeller, the Director of Community and Economic Development, interjects to emphasize that this program extends even to individual plots, ensuring widespread opportunities for growth. These efforts are not without reason.“The population increased by 24.9% according to the 2020 census,” Mayor Cusat proudly states. This substantial growth makes Hazleton the fastest-growing city in Pennsylvania, a trend the city aims to continue. “We believe our actual population is closer to 40,000, despite the census recording 24,996,” he adds, suggesting that the city is poised for further expansion. 89 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 06 HAZLETON, PA /HAZLETON REGIONAL AIRPORT