CLEARFIELD – An application for a Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone (KOEZ) is gaining local support for a proposed “cloud-based” project.
On Tuesday the Clearfield County Commissioners passed a resolution to support the KOEZ application and project at the request of C. Alan Walker.
Two years ago, Walker requested for the Clearfield Area School District, Girard Township Supervisors and commissioners to support a KOEZ in Girard Township.
The KOEZ program was created under former Gov. Tom Ridge, and Walker said it’s worked out extremely well. It takes an area of land and exempts it from local taxes for a period of 10 years.
He said the KOEZ was heavily supported the first time around and gained approval locally. However, he said it wasn’t one of the 15 KOEZs selected by Gov. Tom Wolf.
According to Walker, legislation has allowed for 15 more KOEZs this year. The application deadline is Oct. 1, and awards will be announced by the end of the year.
Walker said the KOEZ program was designed to help areas, such as Clearfield County, that are “lagging behind.” He said it’s time to pursue “cloud-based” industries, noting there currently isn’t one in Pennsylvania.
Walker said the KOEZ application will be submitted for the same 375-acre area in Girard Township as before. He said he’s already received support from the school district and has plans to meet with the Girard Township supervisors this week.
Walker said without the tax exempt status, it would be extremely difficult to get new industry, such as IT, to locate here. Of course, he said the proposed project is contingent upon the governor’s award of the KOEZ.
