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Commissioners extend Keystone Opportunity Zone status for three pad-ready parcels as part of business recruitment push
Summary
The board approved an ordinance extension for three vacant parcels in county business parks under the Keystone Opportunity Zone program to keep tax incentives available for future business recruitment; county development officials said the move levels Bedford County with metropolitan competitors and coincides with a site-selector event.
Bedford County commissioners approved an ordinance to extend Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) status for three vacant, pad‑ready parcels intended to help recruit businesses to the county.
Jennifer Marsh, president of the Bedford County Development Association, summarized the ordinance and its purpose: KOZ is a temporary tax incentive that helps counties recruit large employers by leveling the incentives available in more urbanized markets. Marsh said the three parcels are Lot 21 in Bedford County Business Park 1 (adjacent to Organic Snap Company), Lot 4 in Bedford County Business Park 2 (an 82‑acre pad‑ready site adjacent to an REI distribution center), and Lot 2 (a site with a pending groundbreaking and pad‑preparation underway).
Marsh said the KOZ extensions do not create a unique competitive edge but place those sites on equal footing with metropolitan sites that use similar incentives. She also noted that Bedford County will host site‑selector events with 12 site selectors touring local sites in the coming days and that extending KOZ status helps present ready sites to prospective employers.
The commissioners carried the motion to approve the ordinance; Marsh noted final KOZ activation may be contingent on approvals by Bedford Township and the Bedford Area School District as referenced in the motion text.
Ending: County officials invited commissioners and partners to a groundbreaking ceremony and the site‑selector event scheduled around the approval; staff said final next steps include coordination with township and school board approvals where required.
