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).

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

It creates two potential city zones and one pilot zone for townships and boroughs. The local action, combining three municipalities in the application process, is designed to jointly compete 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 the former FL Smidth property in Catasauqua, the Lehigh Valley Dairy building in Whitehall and the General Supply building in Coplay.

"Intermunicipal agreements are the wave of the future and strongly encouraged by the state," Lieberman said. 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.

There are 20 active members on the local CRIZ committee, representing the municipalities, the county and the school districts. The goal of the committee is to market the properties to developers and help municipalities determine the best use. If approved for the program, developers could then receive tax incentives for developing the properties and funding sources would be made available through CRIZ resources.

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. "The area should be considered the 'final frontier' of Catasauqua because we are landlocked, with few areas for development. I cannot stress [enough] the critical need for careful planning."

CRIZ legislation is oriented to encourage business and job development. Catasauqua Borough Council President Brian Bartholomew noted the CRIZ is not available to help the residential development envisioned as of Catasauqua's Front Street development.

"We have a mixed-use plan, but we may need to increase business opportunities to take maximum advantage of this program," he said.