Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria and Somerset counties) recently attended the National Conference of State Legislatures’ annual summit in Nashville.
At the conference, Burns met with Anya Malkov, Amazon’s regional public policy manager, to discuss his letters to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Burns is attempting to persuade Amazon to establish a facility in Cambria County.
Burns believes the availability of Keystone Opportunity Zone tax breaks from the state, the area’s workforce and a willingness to welcome investors will entice Amazon.
“We also talked about how some Amazon distribution centers are located in small-sized cities like those in my district, as long as they are close to highways,” Burns said. “I view that as an extremely positive piece of information – and to all the people who say, ‘it’s never going to happen,’ – this is something for them to chew on.”
Malkov offered to help arrange a tour of one of Amazon’s Pennsylvania facilities.
Also, at the conference, Burns served on the Communication, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee, and he attended a seminar on rural job creation that included a primer on the Federal Opportunity Zone program.
Federal Opportunity Zones promote investment in low-incoming areas by allowing federal capital gains taxes to be deferred, reduced or potentially eliminated.