CARBONDALE, PA — The City of Carbondale is one of 10 Pennsylvania communities that were officially selected to participate in Blueprint Communities®, a place-based revitalization initiative created by FHLBank Pittsburgh (FHLBank) and administered by Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC). The initiative provides training and resources to help local leaders create sustainable and thriving communities. 

Local leaders across Eastern Pennsylvania have formed teams to engage in an 18-month training, planning and implementation process facilitated by PDC. Carbondale’s team is composed of representatives from an FHLBank member institution, People’s Security Bank, local government and community organizations including NeighborWorks Northeastern PA, Valley in Motion and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance. Community teams will create a strategy for comprehensive revitalization that focuses on enhancing the quality of life for residents by building up community assets, engaging residents, improving local housing and attracting new businesses and jobs. 

Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) will lead the Blueprint Communities teams over the next few years, said Julie Fitzpatrick, executive director at PDC. “For so many of these towns and cities, the timing of this initiative is ideal, and will be a catalyst to move their community forward. Long-term transformational change takes committed local leaders like these with a desire to make lasting decisions that impact the community for generations into the future.” 

FHLBank’s Blueprint Communities initiative supports communities across Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia to: 

• Establish a clear vision and holistic community plan, 
• Grow local leaders and enhance collaboration, and 
• Attract public and private investments to achieve the community’s vision and goals. 

The residents of Carbondale could improve their quality of life by working together as neighbors. NeighborWorks has already begun to form relationships with residents through its recent Heart and Soul community visioning project. By working alongside the City of Carbondale, partner organizations and community leaders, they are fostering the community to build long term sustainable goals that will benefit future generations living in Carbondale, a spokesperson said.

Carbondale was thrilled to be chosen, said city mayor Michele Bannon. “This opportunity allows us to assemble members of our community with diverse backgrounds who are eager to build a strong vibrant future. Our team will work with the community to build a plan generated by the residents based on their dreams and what is possible for our great city. We have so much to offer and so much to celebrate. We are constantly seeking and asking our residents to be a part of framing and shaping our future. Blueprint Communities will allow us to create these partnerships and collaborations for a sustainable and impactful future.” 

Past participants of Blueprint Communities have seen meaningful initiatives come to fruition such as community centers, rails to trails projects, affordable housing, school redevelopment projects, downtown beautification, community gardens, collaborations between local businesses and other community-driven initiatives. Since the program’s inception in 2005, 28 Pennsylvania communities have participated in this initiative. Participating communities have leveraged the Blueprint Communities efforts into millions of public/private investments for their communities. 

About FHLBank Pittsburgh 

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) of 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 or by visiting https://www.fhlb-pgh.com/blueprint-communities. 

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. Visit www.padowntown.org for more information. 

About NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania: 

NeighborWorks is a nonprofit organization that has worked for more than 40 years to increase the financial stability of families and individuals by providing programs and services that create and preserve responsible homeownership and affordable housing throughout the City of Scranton, Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania. With programs including homeownership coaching and education, aging in place, home renovation services, and neighborhood revitalization initiatives, NeighborWorks is deeply ingrained in the community. More information about NeighborWorks can be found at www.nwnepa.org.