How does the Neighborhood Improvement Zone work?
Two in a series explaining the Neighborhood Improvement Zone.
How does the NIZ work, exactly?
It depends.
Graphic by Rachel Feierman
The NIZ works a little differently for the arena. The arena is owned by a public entity that acts as a bridge between the public and private sector. It’s called the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority (ANIZDA).
The authority owns the arena. It borrowed money from investors to fund the arena’s construction. It’s paying back that debt using tax dollars. This will take 30 years.
Graphic by Rachel Feierman
Did this article answer all your questions about the Neighborhood Improvement Zone? If not, you can reach Marielle Segarra via email at msegarra@whyy.org or through social media @MarielleSegarra. Have a topic on which you’d like us to do an Explainer? Let us know in the comment section below, or on Twitter @PaCrossroads.
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