TAMAQUA -- Tamaqua is the first borough in the state to be awarded a new finance program.
Governor Tom Corbett designated the community in Schuylkill County a City Revitalization Improvement Zone, known as CRIZ.
It's a financing program for businesses, and Tamaqua borough council president Micah Gursky said it won't raise taxes for residents. "We don't get a big check. We just have the opportunity to have Harrisburg send our money back to us. "
Gursky said the CRIZ program allows Tamaqua to use state tax dollars to help create a financing authority, which he said would help current and new businesses get more money back from state.
"The program doesn't work unless people make money. The businesses have to do well, so we're really excited to, hopefully, help some local businesses prosper," said Gursky.
Many business owners in Tamaqua said they support any program that helps their own business and that could bring others to the borough.
"You put everything back into your business anyhow to keep growing it. So, getting money back to either help myself or the business would be great," said Yvonne Sidella, owner of Von's Restaurant.
The couple who owns Von's restaurant on North Railroad Street said financial help could make or break a business.
"It means the difference between are we going to keep at it or not," said Rich Sidella from Von's Restaurant.
Many people in Schuylkill County think the program is a good idea, but others said the business owners need to know all the details of the program before signing on.
"The taxes, the labor compliance issues, things of that nature to really make it worthwhile for the program to succeed," said John Nonnemacher from Hazleton.
There could be more CRIZ designations coming to other boroughs in the state in 2016.
