Senate advances legislation aiding airports

The state Senate recently passed legislation creating an the Airport Land Development Zone (ALDZ) program.

The program would provide tax credits, structured like the Keystone Special Development Zone program, to employers who make significant new investments that expand operations and create new jobs. The goal is to spur job growth among airports statewide,

Senate Bill 562 establishes an up to $2,100 tax credit annually for 10 years for industrial and commercial employers located in an ALDZ for each new job they create in Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvania Airports are a strong economic indicator for the commonwealth creating 323,000 jobs while providing $28.5 billion in economic activity in 2019,” Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland County) said after the passage of the bill. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported that airports across the Commonwealth experienced an estimated 57 percent drop in revenue. This commonsense legislation will help reverse this trend and puts us one step closer to getting our state’s economy back on track.”

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

State Sens. Wayne Langerholc Jr. (R-Bedford and Cambria counties), Senate Transportation Committee chairman, and Mario Scavello (R-Monroe County) co-sponsored the bill.