The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Montgomery was established in 1958 as an independent governmental agency under Pennsylvania law by the Commissioners of Montgomery County. The Authority’s principal purposes are assisting the County’s townships and boroughs in stimulating economic revitalization and aiding in the provision of affordable housing through applications to state and federal sources. The Redevelopment Authority’s activities are funded primarily through State and Federal Grant programs, reimbursements from municipalities and private sector entities for services provided to them by the Authority.
Mission Statement
The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Montgomery is an independent governmental agency established under Pennsylvania law by the Commissioners of Montgomery County in 1958. Members of the Authority Board of Directors are Montgomery County residents who serve in their non-paid positions under appointment by the Montgomery County Commissioners. It is the agency through which various types of federal, state, and county assistance are secured, including receiving and administering grants and loans.
The Authority’s principal purposes are assisting the County’s townships and boroughs in stimulating economic revitalization, with resultant improvements in employment, infrastructure, services, and tax ratables, and aiding in the provision of affordable housing. The Redevelopment Authority often serves as a catalyst in fostering public/private partnerships in economic revitalization and the creation of affordable housing. Its services are carried out by its professional staff, supplemented by its consultants in appropriate specialties.
The Redevelopment Authority’s activities are funded primarily through Federal, State, and County grants and reimbursements from municipalities and private sector entities for services provided them by the Authority. The Authority is not included as part of the County Budget.
Services and Programs
Redevelopment Planning and Implementation Pennsylvania Enterprise Zone Administration Conduit for Federal, State, and County Funding Brownfields Assessment & Remediation Tax Increment Financing Affordable Housing Development, Finance & Monitoring
The Redevelopment Authority assembles and administers below market-rate financing packages to make redevelopment and reuse projects economically viable. The Authority: 1. Identifies and applies for federal, state and county loan and grant funds applicable to the redevelopment project; 2. Provides grants and low interest loans for environmental assessments and remediation using its Brownfields Program; 3. Issues tax-exempt bonds for capital projects of non-profit organizations and for lower-income housing developments; 4. Issues and administers Tax Increment Financing whereby some or all of the new tax revenues created by the redevelopment project are designated to repay the tax increment loan used to finance a portion of the project.
Real Estate
The Redevelopment Authority has special powers to purchase, sell, lease or dispose of real estate. It can purchase property for private redevelopment. If granted authority by the County and local municipality, it can acquire redevelopment properties through eminent domain. It can sell acquired properties on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate for purposes of redevelopment.
Housing
The Redevelopment Authority has broad powers to work in the field of housing: 1. Under the Vacant Property provision of the State Redevelopment Law, the Authority can use eminent domain to acquire blighted, vacant houses if the property owner does not cure cited municipality code violations. Once acquired, the Redevelopment Authority can resell the property after the code violations have been corrected or the property has been demolished. 2. The Authority can issue tax-exempt bonds for the development of certain types of new or rehabilitated housing.
Service Area
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Board Members
Jonathan H. Spergel, Esq., Chair Bob Wegbreit, Vice Chair Judith S. Memberg, Secretary James Sanders, Treasurer George Schools, Member