Reading’s North Ninth Street corridor is one of 10 Pennsylvania communities selected for the Blueprint Communities initiative, an 18-month program aimed at revitalizing older communities and neighborhoods.
A program of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, the initiative is being administered this year by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, the only statewide nonprofit dedicated solely to the revitalization of the state’s core communities.
Officials said the initiative creates momentum for revitalizing communities and neighborhoods by building strong local leadership, developing sound regional planning skills, and encouraging coordinated investments in targeted communities by public and private funders.
The city's team was welcomed to the program Monday during a ceremony in Harrisburg.
About 150 people attended the event, which included remarks from various community leaders and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis.
A 2005 alumnus of the program, Davis shared his experience as a member of the McKeesport, Allegheny County, team.
“As a former Blueprint Communities team member, I gained valuable experience and insights — all of which help inform my work now as lieutenant governor,” he said in a release.
During the session, Davis answered questions and shared lessons learned and how to leverage state resources.
Both he and Gov. Josh Shapiro worked and served in local government, Davis noted.
“We know that investing in our communities and revitalizing our neighborhoods is a smart economic development strategy,” he said. “We look forward to partnering with each community along the way.”
Other speakers included Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the state Chamber of Business and Industry; Rick Siger, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development; Julie Fitzpatrick, executive director of PDC; and Federal Home Loan Bank leaders.
“On behalf of employers statewide, we are thrilled to help welcome these 10 communities into the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s Blueprint Communities initiative,” Bernstein said. “Collaboration is absolutely essential in driving sustainable economic growth and nurturing strong, resilient communities across our commonwealth. This is a critical initiative for Pennsylvania, and the PA Chamber is proud to help kick off this important community revitalization effort.”
Siger said the Blueprint Communities initiative is a key partner in the work the state is doing to help communities thrive.
“When our communities grow and thrive,” he said, “Pennsylvania thrives.”
Members of the Reading team were assembled by the Daniel Torres Hispanic Center and include: Jamal Abodalo, community development director, City of Reading; Lenin Agudo, director of small business development corporation, Widener University, Wilmington, Del.; Ted Bassano, board treasurer, Daniel Torres Hispanic Center; Doug Bodden, owner of Bodden Construction Group, Wyomissing; Mary Chown, CEO and lead consultant, MECAdvising LLC, Reading; Lizette Epps, director of financial service, Alvernia University, Reading; David McLain, principal, DHM Law Group; Michael Toledo, president and CEO, Daniel Torres Hispanic Center; Joseph Schupp, senior vice president of community development lending, Customers Bank.
In addition to Reading, the following municipalities and communities were chosen for this round: Allentown; Berwick, Columbia County; Carbondale, Lackawanna County; south side neighborhood, Easton, Northampton County; Allison Hill district, Harrisburg Dauphin County; Panther Valley communities including Coaldale, Schuylkill County, and Lansford, Nesquehoning, Summit Hill, Carbon County; Juniata neighborhood of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County; downtown Sunbury, Sunbury County; and White Haven, Luzerne County.
The areas were chosen based on community need, strong local leadership, existing capacity and readiness to participate in the initiative.
Community teams are composed of local government and organizational leaders, volunteers and representatives of FHLBank member institutions.
The Blueprint Communities initiative has supported the development of local leadership, collaboration across sectors and holistic planning in 28 communities in Pennsylvania, and 64 communities across the bank’s three-state district of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia since 2005.