In the near future, we plan to introduce legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program by increasing the maximum allowable tax credit for qualified projects from $500,000 to $1,500,000.

Pennsylvania is home to thousands of historic buildings and sites that serve as anchors for our communities, support tourism, preserve local character, and drive economic development. The Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program has proven to be an effective tool in encouraging private investment into the rehabilitation and reuse of these important structures.

The current $500,000 cap has become increasingly insufficient for larger redevelopment projects, however, particularly given rising construction and material costs. Many transformative rehabilitation projects require substantial upfront investment, and the existing cap limits the program’s ability to fully leverage private-sector participation.

This legislation would modernize the program by increasing the maximum credit amount to $1,500,000, allowing Pennsylvania to remain competitive with neighboring states that offer more robust historic preservation incentives. Expanding the cap will help spur additional economic activity, encourage redevelopment in downtowns and older communities, create construction jobs, and preserve historically significant properties for future generations.

Importantly, this legislation does not create a new program or alter the existing application and review structure. Rather, it builds upon a successful economic development tool already in place by ensuring the program can better support modern project costs and larger-scale rehabilitations.

Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation to support historic preservation, economic revitalization, and community investment across the Commonwealth.