Flood zones hinder development in two Pennsylvania towns

Downtown Olyphant and Mayfield, Pennsylvania, face development challenges due to federal flood zone designations, hindering investment and increasing building costs. Olyphant's levee, built in 2006 for $23.5 million, isn't recognized by FEMA, requiring costly flood insurance and regulations for developers. Mayfield awaits the status of a $2.34 million federal grant to improve its levee, also facing flood zone restrictions. Both towns are seeking solutions, but federal funding cuts and infrastructure needs complicate efforts to remove the flood zone designations and encourage economic growth.