Metro

BEDFORD — Offroading trails would not only add to Bedford County’s plethora of outdoor recreation assets, but an increase in outdoor experience travel would drive spending at local businesses, thus boosting the broader economy, said Jennifer Marsh, president/CEO of the Bedford County Development Association.

To aid in that effort, the Bedford County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to award a contract not to exceed $115,000 to the Pittsburgh architectural firm of Pashek + MTR Ltd. for consulting services on a UTV-ATV trail feasibility study in coordination with the Countywide UTV-ATV Trail Feasibility Study Steering Committee, which includes a number of both public and private stakeholders.

The study, to determine the best locations to build a network of new trails designed specifically for offroad vehicles, will be funded entirely by a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant awarded in January, according to Commissioners’ Chair Mike Stiles.

Once the commissioners receive the completed study, the county will consider its options.

Marsh said the region has a wealth of outdoor recreation assets, and this study is one step along the path to Bedford County becoming a nationally renowned destination for outdoor experience travel.

Neighboring counties such as Blair and Cambria are also investing in developing their outdoor assets, Marsh said, which will help raise the outdoor industry profile of the entire region.

“We’re on the path there,” Marsh said.

KOEZ, KOIZ extended

In another effort to drive economic development, the commissioners approved a 10-year extension for a trio of special tax incentive zones, including the county’s Business Parks I and II.

Under the Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone and Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone programs administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development, businesses within the specified zone are granted limited exemptions for a number of tax duties including property, earned income and net profit taxes for the duration of the designation.

The Bedford County Development Association sought the extension as the designations are designed as incentives to attract businesses to the area, Marsh said. The original KOEZ and KOIZ programs were set to expire Dec. 31

Marsh hopes that the 10-year extension will allow the BCDA to continue its ongoing work to drive investment and economic growth in Bedford County.

BCDA received a $2.8 million grant from the DCED Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites program earlier this year to help build the Bedford County Business Park III, but the new park will not receive KOIZ/KOEZ designation as of now, Marsh said.

According to Marsh, applications for new KOIZ and KOEZ areas have been closed for several years, but BCDA would be interested in applying for the designation if granted the opportunity in the future.

In the meantime, BCDA will pursue other methods of offering tax incentives for tenants at the upcoming Business Park III, she said.

Property purchase

Also Tuesday, commissioners approved the purchase of a South Thomas Street property being used by the county’s Children & Youth Services.

The county will pay $1.04 million plus costs for the property through a general obligation bond.

Not only will the purchase save the county money on rent and other expenses, but it should provide space to consolidate the CYS operations into a single location.

The county has about 35 CYS employees spread across two separate buildings, Stiles said, noting that the county currently pays about $7,000 a month in rent for the building it is buying.

Stiles said he didn’t know what credit rating would be assigned the bond issue, but noted the purchase agreement for the building will be executed on Oct. 9.

Commissioners Stiles and Deb Baughman voted in favor of the purchase, while Commissioner J.R. Winck voted against the motion.