Blueprint Communities from Across Eastern Pennsylvania Graduate
HARRISBURG, Nov. 20, 2025 – Ten teams from across Eastern Pennsylvania graduated from the initial phase of Blueprint Communities®, a program of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank). Last week’s graduation is a major milestone marking the completion of intensive planning and leadership development training during the first 18 months of a 10-year initiative designed to activate local leaders, deploy a community-developed strategic plan, and revitalize communities.
The event was attended by more than 100 people, including leaders of the 10 graduating communities: Allentown, Berwick, Carbondale, Easton (South Side), Harrisburg (Allison Hill), Panther Valley Communities (Coaldale, Lansford, Nesquehoning, Summit Hill), Philadelphia (Juniata Neighborhood), Reading (Reimagine Reading Initiative), Sunbury,and White Haven. These teams were initially selected based on community need, strong local leadership, existing capacity, and readiness to participate in the initiative.
Blueprint Communities is an FHLBank place-based revitalization initiative, which was administered this round by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC). The program aims to build strong local leadership, develop sound regional planning skills, and encourage coordinated investments in targeted communities by public and private funders. Community teams include regional leaders and volunteers, as well as FHLBank member institutions: Finanta, Customers Bank, Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley, ESSA Bank and Trust, Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank, First Keystone Community Bank, Fulton Bank N.A, Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, Peoples Security Bank & Trust, and S&T Bank.
“These Blueprint Communities teams are now ready to make meaningful, lasting change across Eastern Pennsylvania,” said Julie Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, PDC. “This initial training and programming sets the stage for what’s next, and I’m excited for the success to come in each of these 10 communities. The teams have been busy these last 18 months, so our hope is that they will maintain their momentum in their communities, while engaging new volunteers, leaders, and partners to grow the effort.”
“Over the past 20 years, communities graduating from prior Blueprint Communities cohorts have leveraged this program to a high degree,” said Fred Bañuelos, Business Development Manager, FHLBank. “This has transformed FHLBank’s investment, and the expertise of PDC and others, into millions of public and private investment, and everyone here now will add to that story.”
“In every community, a strong local economy and community amenities and resources are vital to the quality of life of residents,” said John Bendel, Senior Director, Community Investment, FHLBank. “Today’s graduates join 74 other communities who have reached this milestone. FHLBank member financial institutions are an integral part of every community team, and will continue to provide support, guidance and access to capital to enable these communities to achieve their vision for the future.”
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 Main Street Matters program, 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.
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.
“Blueprint Communities” is a registered service mark of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.
