Earlier this month, Governor Shapiro and PA Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger approved $1,163,603 in state tax credits for three Blair County development projects. “All three of these projects go a long way to addressing key housing challenges and the repurposing of anchor main street buildings,” said Stephen McKnight, President and CEO of the Altoona Blair County Development (ABCD) Corporation. “We thank the Governor, Secretary Siger, our regional DCED representative Johnna Pro along with State Representative Lou Schmitt and Senator Judy Ward for their advocacy and support of these important projects,” McKnight added.
These projects were among 218 projects across the Commonwealth to receive tax credit awards totaling more than $34 million through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). Governor Shapiro’s bipartisan 24-25 budget doubled the funding for the NAP from $36 million to $72 million, a move that was championed by ABCD back in 2023. Projects awarded following ABCD applications included Gretka Real Estate Partnership, O’Donnell Robison Holdings LLC and Center City Church, Inc.
Gretka Real Estate Partnership received $500,000 in tax credits for their housing development project which will help address Blair County’s lack of market housing options. They will construct an apartment complex consisting of seven buildings, each containing four units, for a total of 28 units of approximately 1,000 square feet. The project will create roughly 100 construction jobs averaging $30/hr. Phase I of the project is already completed, which includes an additional 28 units.
O’Donnell Robison Holdings LLC received $396,645 in tax credits for the renovation of the former Citizens National Bank which has sat vacant for over 5 years. This project will require a total renovation to transform the space into an up-to-code, efficiently functioning restaurant.
Center City Church, Inc. will use a donated building for additional administrative and classroom/programming space and will utilize all three floors of the facility, totaling approximately 30,000 square feet. The building was donated by Reliance Bank in exchange for $267,150 in tax credits. The nonprofit also plans to integrate a shared incubator space for small businesses and entrepreneurs on the first floor of the facility.
“Each of these projects are helping to further the economic and community transformation here in Blair County, helping to make it a more competitive place to live, work and thrive,” McKnight added. In total, ABCD secured just under $2 million in tax credits in 2024 for development projects in Blair County. Since taking office two years ago, Governor Josh Shapiro and his Administration have focused on investing in our communities to help make Pennsylvania a global leader in innovation, job creation, and economic development.
