Colwyn, a 2,550-population borough in Delaware County, is the 29th Pennsylvania municipality to enroll in the state's distressed communities workout program, known commonly as Act 47.
Dennis Davin, acting secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, made the announcement May 6.
Davin has 30 days to appoint a recovery plan coordinator for Colwyn. Once named, the coordinator will have 120 days from contract execution to develop and propose a plan to the mayor, city council and DCED.
"Colwyn has encountered circumstances that have resulted in a need to seek state support in developing a plan for recovery," Davin said. He cited his review of information provided at an April 7 public hearing.
The Act 47 program began in 1987. Its most headlined case was state capital Harrisburg, which adopted a recovery plan late in 2013 after a brush with bankruptcy. Post-recovery, Harrisburg is under the program auspices.
Nine municipalities have emerged from the program, most recently, Westfall Township, Pike County and the Borough of West Hazleton, all last October.
