(1) There exist in this Commonwealth areas of economic distress characterized by high unemployment, low investment of new capital, inadequate dwelling conditions, blighted conditions, underutilized, obsolete or abandoned industrial, commercial and residential structures and deteriorating tax bases.

(2) These areas require coordinated efforts by private and public entities to restore prosperity and enable the areas to make significant contributions to the economic and social life of this Commonwealth.

(3) Long-term economic viability of these areas requires the cooperative involvement of residents, businesses, State and local elected officials and community organizations. It is in the best interest of the Commonwealth to assist and encourage the creation of keystone opportunity zones and keystone opportunity expansion zones and to provide temporary relief from certain taxes within the zones to accomplish the purposes of this act.