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.
An FHLBANK Pittsburgh Revitalization 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 we hope 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 investments, 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.”
Videos highlighting each community can be found here: https://vimeo.com/channels/1962833
10 teams in the 2025 graduating cohort:
- Allentown Blueprint Community
- Berwick
- Carbondale
- Easton- South Side
- Harrisburg- Allison Hill
- Panther Valley Communities
- Philadelphia- Juniata
- Reading- Reimagine Reading Initiative/9th Street Corridor
- Downtown Sunbury
- White Haven
About & History
Revitalizing communities in Pennsylvania is both essential and difficult. An initiative targeted at 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.
FHLBank Pittsburgh and its partners have developed Blueprint Communities, a revitalization and leadership initiative that catalyzes creating sustainable communities in our region. In the first round, Blueprint Communities focused on 22 Pennsylvania communities, successfully helping them to move forward in their quest for sustainability. In 2014, the initiative renewed its efforts in Pennsylvania. Six new Pennsylvania programs took advantage of the enormous benefits Blueprint Communities offers.
The mission of the Blueprint Communities initiative is to catalyze to revitalize older communities and neighborhoods by:
- Building strong local leadership, collaboration, and development capacity.
- Developing sound local and regional planning skills, which include clear community vision statements, effective goal-setting strategies, comprehensive implementation plans, and performance evaluation measures; and
- Encouraging coordinated investments by public and private funders.
Blueprint Communities training is under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) with support from the Penn State University (PSU) Extension Service and other consultants. 2015 and 2025 sessions were designed for community results, with topics including:
- Identifying and developing community assets and resources
- Growing local leadership and organizational capacity
- Individual development, team building, and conflict support
- Connection to expertise around community development
- Connecting to resources on sustainability and climate/disaster resilience planning
- Encouraging civic engagement, including community-hosted engagement sessions
- Visioning and holistic planning around community needs
- Marketing and communication support, including social media
- Mini grants distributed to each community to execute small projects
- Networking with funders and resource providers
- Organizational capacity assessment and development
- Program metrics tracking, identification, and support for program evaluation
- Outreach and team building that incorporates diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Understanding of available FHLBank Products
More Information
- To learn more about the Blueprint Communities Program, please find a great video from FHLBank Pittsburgh linked here: https://vimeo.com/1113691118/d87ac072f3?fl=pl&fe=sh
- Learn more about the current cohorts by visiting: https://www.fhlb-pgh.com/blueprint-communities
Who are the Blueprint Communities from the 2025 graduating cohort?
Allentown Blueprint Community – Our Blueprint Communities initiative focuses on Center City Allentown, specifically the 1st and 6th Wards. These areas have historically been overlooked, facing economic distress, high unemployment, and poor housing quality. We aim to revitalize these neighborhoods through targeted investment and strategic planning.
Berwick – Berwick aims to be a lively, inviting community with a walkable downtown and accessible residential areas. We cherish our sense of community, pride, and support for one another, making Berwick an ideal place to live and raise a family. Their strategic goals focus on these three main areas: Housing – Diverse, safe housing options close to downtown. Arts & Culture – Downtown celebrates arts, culture, and heritage. Walkability – Creating a connected, pedestrian-friendly environment.
Carbondale – Carbondale, known as “The Pioneer City,” is charting a course for revitalization with a comprehensive 5-year strategic plan. The city is focused on rejuvenating its downtown commercial district to foster economic development, preserve cultural and architectural heritage, and create a vibrant, community-centered environment that resonates with both residents and visitors.
Easton- South Side – The South Side Easton 5-Year Strategic Plan aims to revitalize this historic neighborhood by enhancing community engagement, driving economic growth, and improving quality of life. South Side Blueprints is working in the community and producing meaningful results. Through a combination of diverse programming and projects, Blueprints will offer residents the opportunity to transform their own neighborhood and set the stage for upcoming community leaders who will shape the future of the South Side.
Harrisburg- Allison Hill – Allison Hill Blueprint Team aims to create a community where safe, affordable housing and essential resources are accessible to all. The mission focuses on three core areas, or the ABC’s of Allison HIll: Affordable Housing, Business Development, and Connecting Communities. The goal is to empower individuals and families through sustainable development and community engagement, ultimately fostering a brighter, more inclusive future.
Panther Valley Communities – The Panther Valley (PV) community, comprising Coaldale, Lansford, Nesquehoning, and Summit Hill, aims to enhance the quality of life through equity, recreational opportunities, vibrant neighborhoods, and economic development. The shared vision is to “Work Together for a Thriving Tomorrow.”
Philadelphia- Juniata – The Juniata Blueprint initiative focuses on revitalizing the Juniata neighborhood in Philadelphia through community engagement, strategic planning, and asset-building. The community, historically an industrial hub, has undergone significant demographic and economic shifts, becoming a vibrant working-class Puerto Rican and Dominican community.
Reading– Reimagine Reading Initiative/9th Street Corridor – The strategic vision for the Reading 9th Street Corridor focuses on creating a community where every individual is valued and empowered to contribute meaningfully. Predominantly inhabited by Latino communities, this area serves as a cultural and economic hub. Despite historical disinvestment, the area offers opportunities for growth through its robust network of cultural institutions and potential for commercial development. Centro Hispano’s mission supports the Latino population of the city through initiatives aimed at improving quality of life.
Sunbury – Downtown Sunbury’s 5-Year Strategic Plan outlines a revitalization initiative aimed at transforming the downtown area into a vibrant, welcoming hub that thrives on collaboration, engagement, and innovation. This plan is supported by Sunbury’s historical significance as a once-thriving center of commerce and aims to leverage the resilience and pride of its community members.
White Haven – White Haven aims to enhance its small-town appeal by leveraging its natural resources, outdoor recreation opportunities, and rich history to become a prime destination for living, working, and visiting. The mission focuses on capitalizing on its unique position as a hub of outdoor experiences, with major transportation routes providing easy access to the town’s attractions.
How It Works
How the Blueprint Communities Work
Teams that complete the Blueprint Communities program will gain a thorough understanding of how to create sustainable communities and the elements necessary for success. Communities will have developed a:
- Vision
- Draft community plan based on that vision
- Clear action strategy (including a funding strategy)
- Process to measure outcomes
- List of next steps/timeline to move the process forward
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are a FHLBank member or a member of a community interested in participating in Blueprint Communities, or if you wish to refer a community, please contact Pennsylvania Downtown Center at (717) 413-4630 or email, Julie Fitzpatrick, at juliefitzpatrick@padowntown.org.
Requests must be received no later than Monday, November 20th
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania has offered to provide technical support to any Blueprint Communities® applicant who may need assistance accessing census tract information or additional demographic data for their community application or to help develop a map of their focus area. For assistance, please contact Jonathan Johnson, Senior Policy Analyst – Center for Rural Pennsylvania – johnsonj@rural.pa.gov |717.787.9555
We’ve got you! Below is the link to rewatch the October 12th Information Session, as well as the powerpoint and Q&A documents. If you still have further questions please reach out to us!
Application Checklist:
(THE ENTIRE BLUEPRINT COMMUNITIES APPLICATION AND ATTACHMENTS ARE SUBMITTED VIA THE SUBMITTABLE PORTAL)
Required:
- The Blueprint Community Application (including community information, team member information, and reasons for applying)
- Map of the proposed Blueprint Community focus area – please be sure to show census tract(s), business or neighborhood district boundaries, and special points of interest.
- Letter of Support from FHLBank member
- Letter of Support from local government member (template available)
Optional:
- Relevant community plans, vision, and/or economic position statements.
“No, the Local Government Official does not have to be an elected official, as we have had staff participate in the past cohorts. Remember that the main goal is to make sure that the Blueprint Communities® plan aligns with what the municipality is doing and will have their support. If the community decides to have a municipal staff person be the local government representative, make sure that they have a role that provides advisement to the elected officials. During the planning process, we will also be advising that the team is presenting occasionally to the municipal council to make sure all are on the same page too.”
How The Blueprint Communities Work
Teams that complete the Blueprint Communities program will gain a thorough understanding of how to create sustainable communities and the elements necessary for success. Communities will have developed a:
- Vision
- Draft community plan based on that vision
- Clear action strategy (including a funding strategy)
- Process to measure outcomes
- List of next steps/timeline to move the process forward
“Developing the Blueprint”, Pennsylvania Borough News July 2014
Become a Member and Strengthen Your Community
Join the Pennsylvania Downtown Center and access a wide range of resources and support to help your community flourish. As a member, you’ll enjoy discounted services, stay informed about funding opportunities, and connect with a statewide network of dedicated professionals working to revitalize Pennsylvania’s downtowns and neighborhoods.