Ten Pennsylvania Communities Selected to Participate in Community Revitalization Initiative
HARRISBURG, April 29, 2024 – Ten Pennsylvania communities were officially welcomed as Blueprint
Communities® today, beginning a unique 18-month local revitalization program. The ceremony was attended
by 150 people including public officials, and representatives of the ten communities and financial institution
partners.
Blueprint Communities, a program of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank), is a place-based
revitalization initiative. This year, the program is being administered by Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC)
in the Commonwealth. 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.
Community teams will create a strategy for comprehensive revitalization that improves the quality of life for
residents and focuses on building community assets, engaging residents, improving local housing and
attracting new businesses and jobs.
The ten selected communities – Allentown, Berwick, Carbondale, Easton (South Side), Harrisburg (Allison Hill),
Panther Valley Communities (Coaldale Lansford, Nesquehoning, Summit Hill), Philadelphia (Juniata
Neighborhood), Reading (9th Street Corridor), Sunbury (Downtown), and White Haven – were chosen based
on community need, strong local leadership, existing capacity, and readiness to participate in the initiative.
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, a 2005 Blueprint Communities alumnus, led the busy day with a fireside chat. He shared
his experience as a member of the McKeesport Blueprint Team and the opportunity local leaders on the
Blueprint teams have to enhance their communities. During this morning session, the 2024 cohort asked Davis
a range of questions including lessons learned from the program and how to leverage state resources.
Davis provided encouragement to the teams, “As a former Blueprint Communities team member, I gained
valuable experience and insights — all of which help inform my work now as Lieutenant Governor. Both
Governor Shapiro and I have worked and served in local government, and we know that investing in our
communities and revitalizing our neighborhoods is a smart economic development strategy. We look forward to
partnering with each community along the way.”
The afternoon ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda was a celebration of the newly selected Blueprint
Communities, and was attended by government officials, local dignitaries and community development
stakeholders. Speakers included:
▪ Luke Bernstein, President and CEO, The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry (PA Chamber);
▪ Rick Siger, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development;
▪ Julie Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, PDC; and
▪ FHLBank leaders including Winthrop Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer, John Bendel, Senior
Director of Community Investment, and Fred Bañuelos, Community Investment Business Development
Manager.
“We are thrilled to welcome these ten communities into the Blueprint Communities initiative,” said Watson. “Our
goal is to help equip them with the tools necessary to enhance their leadership skills and the development
capacity to achieve their long-term community vision.”
“On behalf of employers statewide, we are thrilled to help welcome these ten communities into the Federal
Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s Blueprint Communities initiative,” said Bernstein. “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.”
"When our communities grow and thrive, Pennsylvania thrives, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of
Pittsburgh's Blueprint Communities initiative is a key partner in the work the Commonwealth is doing to make
that happen,' said Secretary Rick Siger, Department of Community and Economic Development. "The Shapiro-
Davis Administration is excited for the ten communities which will benefit from this initiative, and we look
forward to helping them succeed as they apply the knowledge and strategies they've gained to advance
economic opportunity and quality of life for their residents."
Community teams are comprised of local government and organizational leaders, volunteers and
representatives from FHLBank member institutions, including Community First Fund, Customers Bank,
Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley, ESSA Bank and Trust, Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank, First
Keystone Community Bank, Fulton Bank N.A, Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, Peoples Security Bank and
Trust, and S&T Bank.
“The Blueprint Communities teams are representative of passionate and committed individuals who are well-
positioned to make lasting effects in the towns and cities they serve,” said Fitzpatrick of PDC. “It is our intent to
engage these communities with the necessary tools and support to create meaningful transformational
impacts. We are grateful to be a part of their journey and are looking forward to the future success of these
Pennsylvania downtowns and neighborhoods.”
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 FHLBank’s three-
state district of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia since 2005.
About FHLBank Pittsburgh
FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include
commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance
companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support
community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established
by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more
by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com.
About Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC)
PDC is the only statewide nonprofit dedicated solely to the revitalization of the commonwealth’s core
communities. As the state partner with the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)
for the Keystone Communities Main Street and Elm Street programs, and as the state Coordinator for Main
Street America, PDC accomplishes its mission by engaging local community leaders and volunteers to
advance the sense of place, quality of life and economic vitality of their downtowns, neighborhood business
districts and nearby residential areas. www.padowntown.org
“Blueprint Communities” is a registered service mark of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.
# # #
