There are 12 designated zones throughout Pennsylvania where a company can receive preferential tax treatment for up to 12 years.

For Commonwealth Telephone Co., a KOZ was a major driver behind the company's decision to relocate its corporate headquarters — and about 330 jobs — to Wilkes-Barre, in the northeastern section of the state.

“Our company is experiencing rapid growth and expansion, and as a result, we have run out of space,” said Michael I. Gottdenker, president and chief operating officer of Dallas, Pa.,-based Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises (CT's parent company). “In an effort to find additional space to accommodate our growth, we considered a variety of locations, including some outside of Pennsylvania.

“The KOZ program and its tax incentives allowed us to remain geographically close to our current location and select Wilkes-Barre for the new headquarters.”

The company's move to the new facility is scheduled to begin in 2001.

— Rachael Hedgcoth