Officials announced the state had approved the city of Bethlehem as a recipient of a City Revitalization and Improvement Zone Dec. 30.

Mayor John Callahan and a number of other local politicians announced in late October the city's application for the CRIZ, and all said they felt the city was a top candidate for one of only two available slots. Bethlehem and Lancaster were the winners.

According to a release from State Sen. Lisa Boscola's office, the CRIZ allows for the use of future tax revenues to pay for infrastructure and development costs of local projects. "This designation will enable Bethlehem to both enhance and accelerate its efforts to bring more jobs and businesses into the city," Boscola said.

Boscola said that all of the city's development projects are in line with its comprehensive plan, previous revitalization efforts and commitment to smart growth. The plan would generate 4,120 permanent jobs, stoke $300 million in new development and plow $83.8 million in new revenue into the economic development effort. The Bethlehem CRIZ Authority, the applicant for the state designation, is now tasked with securing development funding and driving that funding out to approved projects. Possible projects include a proposed convention center at the former Bethlehem Steel Corp. site, a $12 million office and retail complex at New and Third Streets; and the redevelopment of Martin Towers.Under the CRIZ program, new state and city revenue generated from the program can be used to help fund the economic development initiatives. Qualifying taxes include sales, income, earned income, business privilege and corporate net income. Those additional tax revenues generated by the CRIZ development would revert back to their respective state or local government source when the bonding obligations are satisfied.

Boscola was critical to this success, having earlier in the year introduced legislation that would allow Bethlehem's involvement.

Tapped to run the new CRIZ Authority are attorney James Broughal, CPA John Filipos, DCED Director Joseph Kelly, City of Easton DCED Director Gretchen Longenbach (a Bethlehem resident) and insurance manager and former Northampton County Council member Ann McHale.