Section 1719-B - Department of Community and Economic DevelopmentThe following apply to appropriations for the Department of Community and Economic Development:
(1) From money appropriated for general government operations, no less than $1,200,000 shall be used to support a manufacturing technology development effort and to assist Pennsylvania small businesses with enhanced cyber security in a county of the fourth class with a population of at least 143,679, but not more than 144,200, under the most recent Federal decennial census.(2) From money appropriated for marketing to attract tourists:(i) $4,054,000 to fund the activities of the tourism office within the department; and(ii) the remaining money includes an allocation to be used to plan, market and conduct a series of arts and cultural activities that generate Statewide and regional economic impact, and $500,000 shall be used for an annual Statewide online competition serving approximately 2,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from across this Commonwealth to be held in a county of the fourth class.(3) From money appropriated for Keystone Communities:(i) $6,357,000 shall be used to fund the Main Street Program, Elm Street Program, Enterprise Zone Program and accessible housing. The allocation for the Main Street Program, Elm Street Program, Enterprise Zone Program and accessible housing shall be distributed in the same proportion as amounts allocated in fiscal year 2012-2013.(ii) The remaining money shall be used for projects supporting economic growth, community development and municipal assistance throughout this Commonwealth.(4) Funds appropriated for local municipal relief shall include an allocation to provide State assistance to individuals, persons or political subdivisions directly affected by natural or manmade disasters, public safety emergencies, other situations that pose a public safety danger or other situations at the discretion of the department. State assistance may be limited to grants for projects that do not qualify for Federal assistance to help repair damages to primary residences, personal property and public facilities and structures. Grants shall be made available for reimbursement in a disaster emergency area only when a Presidential disaster declaration does not cover the area or when the department determines that a public safety emergency has occurred.(5) Notwithstanding section 4(1) of the act of October 11, 1984 (P.L. 906, No. 179), known as the Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program for Nonurban Counties and Certain Other Municipalities, the Commonwealth may use up to 3% of the funds received pursuant to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-383, 88 Stat. 633) for administrative costs.(6) From money appropriated for Pennsylvania First, no less than $8,000,000 shall be used to fund the Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA) for workforce training grants provided through an alliance of educational providers, including, but not limited to, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities, the Pennsylvania College of Technology and community colleges located in this Commonwealth.(7) From money appropriated for the Office of International Business Development, the department shall reopen and maintain an Office of Trade and Investment in a city which operates in an economy which is part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation international forum and in which an Office of Trade and Investment existed on July 1, 2020. An Office of Trade and Investment which is required to be reopened under this clause shall be reopened no later than March 31, 2022.Added by P.L.622021 No. 24, § 18, eff. 7/1/2021.