Mayors from Whitehall, Catasauqua and Coplay, along with interim Lehigh County Executive Matthew Croslis, gathered at the former FL Smidth property in Catasauqua Friday to kick off their drive to be part of the state's latest tax abatement program, called City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ).

State Gov. Tom Corbett authorized the improvement zone legislation in July under Pennsylvania Act 52.

It created two potential city zones and one pilot zone for townships and boroughs. The local action, combining three municipalities in the application process, is designed as a try for the one pilot zone slot.

According to Whitehall Township Industrial and Commercial Authority Executive Director Howard Lieberman, the three communities joined to make an effort to develop abandoned, distressed properties such as the former FL Smidth site in Catasauqua, the Lehigh Valley Dairy in Whitehall, and the General Supply building in Coplay.

"Intermunicipal agreements are the wave of the future and strongly encouraged by the state," said Lieberman. He told The Press after the news conference the details of the CRIZ are not finalized.

"The bill requires that the specifics are approved on Oct. 31, but we can't guarantee when everything will be released," he said. In the interim, Lieberman is gathering necessary documents and preparing assessments based on preliminary information.

"I think there will be an advantage to being first," he said.

The local CRIZ committee's goal is to market the properties to potential developers. If the local municipalities are approved for the program, developers could receive tax incentives for developing the properties and funding sources would be made available through CRIZ resources.

CRIZ legislation is designed to encourage business and job development.

Although the borough would lose some of its business taxes, state taxes could be used to support funding and provide tax-exempt financing.

Whitehall Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. said he looks at CRIZ as a way to develop sites in Whitehall that have been problems for the township for decades.

Developing abandoned industrial sites allows communities to keep green spaces and improve the appearance of their communities.

Catasauqua Mayor Barbara Schlegel expressed her thanks for the effort and the opportunity to work cooperatively.

"This site is 12 acres bordering on Front Street and the Lehigh River," she said. "I cannot stress [enough] the critical need for careful planning."

Lieberman said he hopes the display of cooperation among the municipalities and the county will be enough to convince the state to select these distressed properties for a pilot trial.

Lieberman commented on what would happen if the state rejects the application.

"I think we will be back to the legislature, asking that a program be developed to help us," he said. "Maybe it's even an expanded version of CRIZ."