Blueprint Communities® Application is Now Open!

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) is excited to announce the opening of the Blueprint Communities® program in eastern Pennsylvania. Blueprint Communities is an FHLBank program that supports investment and revitalization of communities and neighborhoods in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Created by FHLBank in 2005, the initiative serves as a catalyst for revitalizing communities through collaboration and investing in local leadership development and capacity. FHLBank and their lead partner, the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) are accepting applications for the 2024 Blueprint Communities program.
 

The application opened on Sept. 27, 2023, and closes at 5 pm on Dec. 1, 2023. An optional informational webinar will take place at 11:00 am on Nov. 8.

For more information, please visit PDC’s website.

Register for Pre-Application Webinar

Teams receive support over 18 months to help them prioritize initiatives, utilize and share 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; overall, these plans have helped 64 communities leverage approximately $500 million in public and private funding.

Who is eligible?

• A participating community can be a municipality, a cluster of municipalities, a neighborhood in a city, a county, or even a region, though the area applying should have a population of less than 30,000.
• Priority consideration will be given to communities in the eastern half of Pennsylvania, although anyone can apply.

Communities who apply should have:

• A need for developing a community strategic plan, and a desire to invest in capacity-building.
• Existing efforts related to community development initiatives or projects.
• Participants that can commit to the 18-month program training schedule.
• A willingness to learn and grow as a team and utilize new opportunities.
• A fiscal agent identified to receive funding for their Blueprint Communities initiatives.

Community teams are required to be assembled as part of the application. Each community team should be comprised of diverse leadership of 8-10 individuals committed to increasing the capacity and collaboration in their community.

Each team must include the following people:

• Employee of an FHLBank Pittsburgh member financial institution (bank, insurance company, credit union, CDFI – https://www.fhlb-pgh.com/members-list)
• Local government official
• Real estate developer or specialist
• Representative of a community organization
• Economic development professional

Other team members can be from outside of this group, which could include artists, business owners, healthcare professionals, residents, and students.

As partners, FHLBank and PDC aim to foster partnerships to build capacity and revitalize communities in eastern Pennsylvania. Whether rural or urban, many of the needs and opportunities are similar. “As we travel the Commonwealth, we see traditional anthracite towns in Carbon and Schuylkill Counties, as well as historic neighborhoods and business districts in Allentown or Reading struggling to organize their businesses, residents, and local stakeholders toward finding solutions for their community,” said Julie Fitzpatrick, PDC executive director. “The Blueprint Communities initiative can be a catalytic first or next step to move the community from a needs-based to an asset-based community strategy.”

PDC will partner with Penn State Extension and others to support community teams through the training and planning process. Along with FHLBank, a variety of regional, state, and national partners will be accessible to the community teams, supporting them during the planning and implementation phase of the program. Upon graduating from the training portion, participating communities will receive a Blueprint Communities designation for up to 10 years, providing them with continued connections to resources and support as they implement their plans.

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 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.

“Blueprint Communities” is a registered service mark of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.”