The Abington Township board of commissioners voted 13 to 1 in favor of creating an Economic Development Corporation during its Thursday meeting.

The independent non-profit agency is intended to revitalize main streets, attract new employers, and support existing small businesses.

From the Township’s website:

An Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is a quasi-governmental non-profit corporation, foundation or association whose mission is to provide economic development to a targeted geographical area. An Economic Development Corporation can promote economic development within the Township by helping Abington:

• Maintain existing business communities, community assets, occupancy levels and employment;
• Enhance downtown centers, vacant properties, multi-modal transportation and community facilities;
• Attract investment, revitalization, new employers, job growth; and
• Grow the economy, job market, quality of life of residents and community assets

“We have all these studies already available that the township is unable to execute because it’s just not within the traditional purview of a municipality,” commissioner Matt Vahey said in an interview with WHYY News. “The Economic Development Corporation will not lack for concepts and ideas because we’ve been looking at this for so long, but we just don’t have the expertise to execute.”

According to WHYY, the public comments were an even mix of support and opposition. Some residents expressed concern about the EDC using taxpayer dollars. Residents in favor said they look forward to upgrades in Roslyn and Keswick neighborhoods.

For more about the EDC from the Township, including a final version of the by-laws, you can click here.

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