A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION

An initiative targeted to helping community leaders plan for and carry out effective and comprehensive revitalization efforts can have an enormous impact on the quality of life, both now and far into the future.

Study Area City of Allentown Census Tract: 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10

Allentown is the largest municipality part of what is known as the Lehigh Valley. The Lehigh Valley, the pair of Lehigh and Northampton Counties, is one of the fastest-growing regions in Pennsylvania.​

PROGRAM MISSION

The Pennsylvania Downtown Center has partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank Pittsburgh) to implement the Blueprint Communities initiative which serves as a catalyst for revitalizing older communities and neighborhoods. The initiative is designed to build strong local leadership, collaboration, and development capacity, develop sound local and regional planning skills, and encourage coordinated investments in targeted communities by public and private funders. 

WHAT IS A BLUEPRINT COMMUNITY?

Blueprint Communities® is an initiative of Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) that revitalizes communities and neighborhoods in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Created by FHLBank in 2005, the initiative prepares and supports Blueprint Communities teams as they develop and implement a revitalization plan.

Community teams receive a series of capacity building skills over a 10-year period to help them prioritize initiatives, connect to expertise, build a plan of action, and access implementation resources.

Plans are designed with community input to address locally identified needs. Past plans have included strategies to increase tourism, develop quality affordable housing, support the local business community, and redevelop historic buildings.

OUR VISION STATEMENT

The Allentown Blueprint community  neighborhoods are diverse, inclusive and welcoming environments where residents have access to safe, healthy, stable, and affordable housing, family-sustaining work force opportunities,  community services,  plentiful neighborhood amenities, and an environment that supports  equitable economic growth and mobility. 

OUR PRIORITIES

Revitalize the Allentown Blueprint community neighborhoods through meaningful engagement of the community residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government to enhance and sustain the quality of life of all residents by:

  • Creating + preserving safe, healthy + affordable housing

  • Upgrading existing housing stock

  • Activating public spaces through neighborhood engagement

ALLENTOWN’S TEAM

Julio Guridy, Executive Director  | Allentown Housing Authority

Judith Hunsicker, COO, First Executive Officer | Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley

 Daniel Bosket, Director | Community Action Development Corp. Allentown

 Dr. Andrea Wilson, Director of Education | CASA Guadalupe

 Mark Hartney, Deputy Director | Community & Economic Development, City of Allentown

 Ellen Larmer, Housing Development Officer | Lehigh County Housing Authority

 Lauren Matthews, Marketing & Communications Specialist | Allentown Economic Development Corp.

 Trevor Tormann, Senior Planner | City of Allentown

 Diana Vargas, Community Health Liaison Manager | St. Luke’s Hospital, Sacred Heart Campus

Blueprint Communities PA Kickoff Ceremony, April 29, 2024