News Release - 5/5/2008
STEELSTACKS RECIEVES $2 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM NORTHAMPTON COUNTY HOTEL TAX
NEWS RELEASE
DATE: May 5, 2008
CONTACT: Kim I. Plyler (610) 332-1300, Ext. 333, kplyler@fest.org.
BETHLEHEM, PA—The future of the arts in the Lehigh Valley is looking brighter thanks to a $2 million appropriation from Northampton County that has been earmarked for the SteelStacks arts, media and cultural center being developed by local nonprofits ArtsQuest and PBS 39.
The money for SteelStacks will come from revenues generated from the Hotel Room Rental Tax, which the county collects on all hotel, inn and bed & breakfast rentals in the county. Money raised from the 4-percent tax is used to develop tourism facilities and promote tourism in the county and the region.
Under County Ordinance 484-2008, which was adopted May 1 by Northampton County Council and signed today by County Executive John Stoffa, 12.5 percent of the revenues raised annually by the Hotel Room Rental Tax will go to supporting SteelStacks. The 12.5-percent figure represents the portion of the hotel tax revenues set aside annually for future development of tourism facilities and for marketing within Northampton County to enhance regional tourism. The ordinance, which goes into effect June 4, calls for the county to provide $1 million to ArtsQuest and $1 million to PBS 39 until the $2 million mark has been reached.
“SteelStacks is definitely a worthwhile project. It’s basically a public-private partnership and in my option this is what the Hotel Tax was designed for, to help nonprofits promote tourism and the arts,” said Northampton County Council President Ann McHale, who introduced the ordinance with fellow council member J. Michael Dowd.
“The Stoffa administration strongly supports the SteelStacks project,” Northampton County Administrator John Conklin said. “It will become a major attraction and focal point for the brilliant development taking place in Bethlehem’s South Side and strengthen the already vibrant tourism and cultural offerings.”
SteelStacks, which is being developed by local nonprofits ArtsQuest and PBS 39, is an innovative 21st-century town square in Bethlehem, Pa. where history, culture and the arts will intersect with technology, education and celebration. Proposed for a 4.5-acre parcel of the former Bethlehem Steel Corp. property on the city’s South Side, it will feature a variety of facilities for broadcasting, musical performances, education and performing arts.
For more information on SteelStacks, please visit www.steelstacks.org.
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