Lawrence Co. to extend enterprise zone bounds

Volant and New Wilmington will be subzones.

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation received approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to extend the current boundaries of the Lawrence County Enterprise Zone.

The enterprise zone now will include the zoned industrial areas of the Borough of Ellwood City and Wayne Township, formerly known as the Ellwood City Enterprise Zone. 

“This means that more land and facilities in Lawrence County qualify for advantageous tax treatments, and also low-interest loans, that makes the county as a whole much more attractive to businesses looking to expand and/or relocate here,” said Linda Nitch, the LCEDC executive director. “We are thrilled that the department approved our request.”

“The Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation is encouraged to continue to pursue new opportunities as it strives to carry out its strategy to become an economically viable and desirable place to live and work,” noted John P. Blake, executive deputy secretary of the department, in his letter to LCEDC. 

Although the Borough of Ellwood City and Wayne Township are not contiguous with the rest of the enterprise zone, the department considered the prospective business development opportunities too important to ignore. 

In addition, also at the request of LCEDC, the boroughs of Volant and New Wilmington shall be considered a subzone of the enterprise zone, which qualifies businesses within the boroughs for many enterprise zone benefits, including the opportunity to use the local revolving-loan fund.