The Bureau of Economic Development is one of several offices located in the Jefferson County Department of Development. Additional Departments include the Planning Commission, the Solid Waste Authority, and the Redevelopment Authority.

Jefferson County Department Of Development
Jefferson Place
155 Main Street, 2nd. Floor
Brookville, PA 15825
Phone: 814-849-3047
Fax: 814-849-5049
cwcoon@jeffersoncountypa.com
Craig Coon, Executive Director

The Bureau serves as a one-stop business assistance center in Jefferson County. Whether assisting a start-up operation, helping an existing business expand, or working to locate a new industry in the County, staff work very diligently to address the needs of industry.

SERVICES OFFERED


Business Start-up Assistance

Working with the Clarion University of PA Small Business Development Center, staff guide up companies through the business plan development phase.


Business Financing

Staff oversee the functions of the Jefferson County Development Council, the entity which serves as a conduit to many business financing programs including:

Jefferson County Revolving Loan Program
Maximum loan amount: $125,000 or 50% of total project costs (whichever is less), current interest rate: 4%, eligible uses: land, building, machinery & equipment and working capital, job creation requirements: 1 job created per $25,000 borrowed.

Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) Program
funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, PIDA finances land and building costs only. Maximum loan amount: $1,000,000 or 40% of total project costs (whichever is less), Jefferson County interest rate: 2.75%, eligible uses: land and building costs ONLY, job creations requirements: 1 job per $25,000 borrowed.

*PIDA also offers a job retention program, contact staff for more information.

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA) Program
Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community Economic Development, the PEDFA program is a taxable or tax-exempt pooled bond program.

Minimum loan amount: $400,000, interest rate (weekly variable), tax-exempt: land, building, equipment, taxable: land, building, equipment, working capital, and refinancing.

For more information concerning business financing programs, contact staff at 814-849-3047.


Industrial Sites

Industrial sites located throughout Jefferson County add to he availability of opportunities for business growth and development. Two of the seven industrial parks located in Jefferson County are directly adjacent to Interstate 80. The remaining five sites are well situated within close proximity of major north-south and east-west transportation corridors. Most sites offer fully integrated infrastructure including municipal water, sewer and access roads. On a regular basis, staff seek to identify new industrial land opportunities in the County.

Brockway Industrial Park Corsica Industrial Park Jefferson County Industrial Park Pinebrook Industrial Park P & N Commerce Park Preston Industrial Park Punxsutawney Industrial Park.

For more information concerning industrial land contact staff at 814-849-3047.


Tax Abatement

The Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) Program is available throughout school districts, municipalities, and townships in Jefferson County on a four or ten year schedule. Four year abatement programs are as follows:

1st year 100% abatement
2nd year 75% abatement
3rd year 50% abatement
4th year 25% abatement

Ten year programs are abated 100% for the first year and reduced by 10% annually. NO LERTA IS GIVEN ON LAND VALUES.

For more information on business assistance in Jefferson County, please contact the Department of Development at the above mentioned address or phone and fax numbers or E-mail address.

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