ERIE — Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-49) today celebrated the Commonwealth’s approval of the first three projects under Erie’s City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ), calling it a defining moment in a decade-long effort to bring one of Pennsylvania’s most powerful economic development tools to the City of Erie.
The approved projects represent more than $105 million in new development and infrastructure investment, including the Scott Bayfront Hotel, the Bayfront Parking Ramp Expansion, and the redevelopment of the historic Renaissance Centre into The Trust Hotel.
“For more than 10 years, I’ve worked to make CRIZ a reality for Erie because I knew it had the potential to transform our downtown and bayfront,” Laughlin said. “There were times when the program faced a statewide moratorium and many believed Erie would never receive a designation. We kept pushing, built bipartisan support, and never gave up. Today, we’re seeing the results of that persistence.”
The three approved projects will utilize approximately $20.6 million in CRIZ financing to help move development forward. Together, they represent the first wave of projects expected to create jobs, attract visitors, expand the local tax base, and generate long-term economic growth throughout Erie’s downtown and bayfront corridor.
“CRIZ was never about one project, it was about creating lasting economic momentum for Erie,” Laughlin said. “These approvals prove the program is working exactly as intended. By reinvesting tax revenue generated from new economic activity back into additional development, we’re creating a cycle of investment that will benefit our community for decades to come.”
“I want to thank Governor Josh Shapiro for lifting the previous administration’s moratorium on new CRIZ designations and recognizing the tremendous opportunity Erie represents,” Laughlin said. “I’m also grateful to the Erie CRIZ Authority for its outstanding work in getting these first projects across the finish line. This is just the beginning. We have a strong pipeline of additional projects, and I look forward to seeing the continued investment, job creation, and revitalization that CRIZ will bring to our community.”
The three approved projects include:
- AC Marriott Hotel – $37M project ($7.6M CRIZ Funding)
- Bayfront Parking Ramp Expansion – $10M project ($8M CRIZ Funding)
- The Trust Hotel / Renaissance Centre – $58 million project ($5M CRIZ Funding)
CONTACT: Chris Carroll | Phone: 814-860-0794