NeighborWorks’ Expands Work in Carbondale NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) recently accepted a contribution from Coterra Energy, in the amount of $266,600 through the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). This contribution marks the single largest NAP contribution NeighborWorks has ever received and has significantly bolstered our efforts to improve communities across Northeastern Pennsylvania. The contribution will support the Beautiful Blocks Program for 2024. Beautiful Blocks, which is jointly sponsored by NeighborWorks, the City of Scranton, the City of Carbondale and the City of Pittston, provides matching grants of up to $1,000 to each member of a group of at least five residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes in their respective municipalities. Grants are awarded annually through a competitive application process. This contribution is particularly significant as it is funding the entirety of the Beautiful Blocks Pittston program in its first year, enabling us to expand this successful initiative to a new city. Coterra’s contribution is also funding neighborhood revitalization work in Carbondale. The funding has been pivotal in completing critical projects such as the demolition of vacant and deteriorating properties, providing grants to homebuyers to help them improve the exterior of their homes and developing the Carbondale Core Neighborhood Plan. “NeighborWorks is extremely grateful for Coterra’s exceptional commitment and partnership,” said Shane Powers, President & CEO of NeighborWorks. “This significant contribution underscores the power of collaboration in driving meaningful community development. Coterra’s support has enabled us to expand the Beautiful Blocks Program to Pittston and continue vital revitalization work in Carbondale, making a tangible difference in our communities.” Coterra Director of External Affairs George Stark, said, “We at Coterra are proud to support the vital work of NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania through the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program. NeighborWorks revitalizes neighborhoods where our employees, contractors, and vendors live and creates opportunities for individuals and families to improve their lives through quality housing and financial guidance. This investment not only assists those in need but also enhances the communities we call home.” Altogether, contributions from Coterra and its affiliates were the single largest NAP contribution NeighborWorks has ever received and accounted for the bulk of its total NAP contributions this year. Coterra’s unwavering support underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in community development and highlights the positive impact of corporate contributions on local revitalization projects. NeighborWorks is deeply grateful for Coterra’s remarkable generosity and commitment to community development.
NeighborWorks NEPA 2024 Beautiful Blocks Program NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania is pleased to partner with the City of Scranton, City of Carbondale, and City of Pittston to announce the block groups selected for funding in the 2024 Beautiful Blocks program cycle. Our 2024 cycle will see a total of 155 properties in Scranton, 34 properties in Carbondale, and 44 properties in Pittston being awarded grant funding., NeighborWorks staff and local officials expect to see a significant positive impact in neighborhoods where projects are set to take place. A full list of groups receiving funding is attached to this release. Beautiful Blocks is a home improvement program which provides matching grants of up to $1,000 per property to groups of residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. 2024 represents the debut of the Beautiful Blocks program in the City of Pittston, as well as the sixth consecutive program cycle in the City of Scranton, and the fourth consecutive cycle in the City of Carbondale. Members of selected groups have until November 1 to complete their individual exterior home improvement projects, with all participating properties being eligible for up to $1,000 in matching grant funding. Participating properties in the City of Scranton that are completing sidewalk repair and replacement projects are also eligible for up to $4,000 in funding for their projects, in an effort to increase walkability in the Electric City. Resident groups are also eligible for a $500 stipend to conduct a community celebration or service project.For our 2024 cycle, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania anticipates awarding $335,000 to projects in Scranton, $73,000 for projects in Carbondale, and $38,000 for projects in Pittston. The total of $446,000 awarded is the most in any year since the Beautiful Blocks program was launched in 2019. According to NeighborWorks President & CEO Shane Powers, “Beautiful Blocks continues to be a powerful catalyst for community transformation, bringing residents together to enhance their neighborhoods. We are excited to announce our expansion into Pittston, adding to our existing communities in Scranton and Carbondale. This year, we saw an unprecedented level of interest in the program, resulting in the highest number of applicants ever for Beautiful Blocks. We deeply appreciate the support from our funding partners who make this growth possible and look forward to fostering even more physical improvements to homes and stronger connections between neighbors in all three communities.” “Neighborhoods within the City of Carbondale continue to thrive!” Carbondale Mayor Michele Bannon said of the impact of Beautiful Blocks. “We have a record number of teams in our 2024 Beautiful Blocks program thanks to the incredible staff at NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania. We are excited to have multi-year teams returning and new teams forming relationships to make an impact on their neighborhoods together. Our neighborhoods formed because we need each other to succeed, and we enjoy building our lives within our communities together.”“Thriving, United, Safe and Joyful…. that’s the City of Carbondale’s goal for our Neighborhoods!” Beautiful Blocks in Carbondale is made possible with support from Coterra Energy, First National Bank, Wayne Bank, Honesdale National Bank, FNCB, NBT Bank, Gentex, and the Carbondale Lackawanna Industrial Development Corporation (CLIDCO).“We are grateful for the positive impact NeighborWorks NEPA has on our neighborhoods through the Beautiful Blocks program,” Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti said of the program’s impact. “This program brings residents together for a common goal, improves residences, and increases property values.” Beautiful Blocks in Scranton is made possible with support from the City of Scranton, with additional support from the Regional Foundation, First National Bank, PS Bank, Coterra Energy, M&T Bank, Peoples Security Bank, and Community Bank, NA.“I am extremely excited about our new partnership with NeighborWorks,” Pittston Mayor Michael A. Lombardo said of the program’s launch in his city. “Our initial phase of the beautiful blacks program has already proven to yield significant success. 44 total projects were approved and organized into five block groups. This program gives us another tool toward neighborhood revitalization. Congratulations to all participants.”Beautiful Blocks in Pittston is made possible with support from Coterra Energy. Over the first five cycles of Beautiful Blocks in the City of Scranton, more than 420 individual projects have been completed by Scranton residents, grouped into 57 block groups. More than $353,000 in grant funding has been distributed to as part of these projects, with participating residents contributing more than $923,000 in matching funds to improving their neighborhoods. In the first three years of the Beautiful Blocks program operating in Carbondale, 12 groups of neighbors have participated by completing 73 exterior improvement projects, with more than $62,000 in grant funding awarded. This grant funding helped to leverage more than $140,000 in funds invested from participating homeowners. Residents of Scranton, Carbondale and Pittston who are interested in participating in future cycles of the Beautiful Blocks program are encouraged to access more information by visiting the program homepage at https:// www.nwnepa.org/programs/beautiful-blocks.html. More information is also available by contacting Gerard Hetman, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania Community Development Specialist, at (570) 558-2490 or ghetman@nwnepa.org.
NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania Inaugural Home Fair NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania will host its inaugural Home Fair on July 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton. This community-centered event aims to provide valuable information on housing health and safety, homeownership and affordability resources to residents of Lackawanna County. The Home Fair will feature a diverse array of community resources. Attendees will have access to several homeownership resources, from lenders and realtors to home inspectors and insurance providers. Additionally, the event will highlight essential home safety information on lead, radon, domestic violence and fire prevention.This event is designed for all residents of Lackawanna County. Attendees will find valuable information, whether they are renters, prospective homebuyers, current homeowners, or those interested in learning more about home health and safety. Community members will have the unique opportunity to gather information and connect with various services in one convenient location. The primary goal of the Home Fair is to equip community members with comprehensive resources they may not be aware of. This includes information on home health and safety, homebuying and home maintenance, and government entities that protect residents and consumers. By bringing these resources together, NeighborWorks aims to ensure critical information is readily accessible to the community. “In bringing together multiple resources, we are providing options for our community in a single location, making gathering information on community resources easily accessible to those who need it most,” said Kathi Tavera, Home Ownership Specialist at NeighborWorks. “Our plan is to make this an annual event to allow for many community members to come to a single location and receive information on health & safety, housing affordability, and so much more.” The Home Fair will also serve as a platform to bring new resources to the area. The event is slated to have representatives from various government programs and civil rights groups to provide necessary information on topics like Consumer Protraction and Fair Housing laws. The event will serve as a conduit for community businesses and non-profits to collaborate and learn more about each other’s programs too. This interconnectedness enhances the collective ability to refer clients to the appropriate services, ensuring that community members receive comprehensive support.
NeighborWorks NEPA Allen Park Concert Series NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania is announcing the return of the Allen Park Concert Series for its second year, starting June 14th and running through August 23rd. This year’s series will have a diverse mix of musical genres thanks to a new partnership with NEPA Scene. As part of NeighborWorks’ mission to revitalize neighborhoods, the series will feature six bi-weekly outdoor concerts, offering a diverse range of musical genres from local artists. The concerts will take place every other Friday rain or shine from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Allen Park, located at 1100 Price St., Scranton, PA. “The Allen Park Concert Series is a result of community outreach in West Side. Our 10-year resident-driven plan highlights a desire for free family-friendly community activities,” said Miranda Pace, West Scranton Neighborhood Coordinator at NeighborWorks. “We are thrilled to partner with NEPA Scene this year to expand our reach and enhance the concert experience. This also gives us more opportunity to coordinate additional elements like bringing in the Lackawanna County Master Gardeners (July 12) and having a bike rodeo (July 26).”NEPA Scene, known for its deep connection to the local music scene, is coordinating the bands and assisting with promoting the event. Founder and editor Rich Howells, a West Scranton native, has curated a lineup of talented local bands spanning multiple genres including jazz, funk, pop, indie, and rock. “NEPA Scene works hard to feature local artists of all kinds, so we made sure to include a variety of bands who could share both original songs and covers that anyone can enjoy,” Howells said. “I am a West Sider born and raised, so it feels great to give back to the community I’m from with free, all-ages shows with musicians from across Northeastern Pennsylvania that I believe everyone needs to hear. NEPA Scene also started right here in West Side nearly 10 years ago, so it’s all coming full circle.” The concert series will feature performances from Running in Flip-Flops, Tori V & The Karma, The Contact Collective, Brendan Brisk Band, The Holtzmann Effect and Meet Me on Marcie. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from nearby small businesses, and parking is conveniently located across the street.“We anticipate the event will make even more of a splash this year,” Pace added. “With NEPA Scene’s expertise in promoting local arts and our shared commitment to community engagement, we look forward to seeing everyone out and about enjoying the music and festivities.”
Mayor Cognetti and NeighborWorks Dedicate Parking Lot in West Scranton The project was managed by NeighborWorks as part of its West Scranton Neighborhood Plan Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti joined Todd Pousley, Community Development Manager at NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania, to dedicate a new City-owned parking lot in West Scranton at the corner of N. Main Avenue and Price Street. As a part of NeighborWorks’ West Scranton Neighborhood Plan, the project was managed by the non-profit organization and will serve nearby small businesses while improving the safety and aesthetic of West Scranton’s business district. “We know how important parking availability is to small businesses, and our team is focused on increasing West Scranton’s economic vitality,” Mayor Cognetti said. “The improvements to this parking lot work toward this vision and set an example for other lots in the City.” The parking lot has been transformed with pavement resurfacing and striping, additions of concrete curbs and islands, decorative fencing, landscaping, upgraded lighting, and the installation of a “West Scranton Business District” monument sign. The West Scranton Neighborhood Plan is NeighborWorks’ comprehensive, 10-year development strategy for improving the West Scranton neighborhood. In partnership with the City and other community partners, the plan focuses on park improvements, walkability, business support, and building community identity. “This dedication celebration highlights our efforts over the past year and a half to bring this lot to residents and revitalize the neighborhood,” Pousley said. “We are grateful for our continued partnership with the City to revitalize West Scranton.” This project was funded through a combination of dollars from the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and a Keystone Communities Implementation Grant, administered by Pennsylvania’s Department of Community & Economic Development. The parking lot received $125,000 in CDBG funds and $50,000 from the Keystone Communities Program.
NeighborWorks NEPA Receives Multiple Awards NeighborWorks Northeastern PA (NeighborWorks) was honored with two awards at the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s (PHFA) housing counseling awards ceremony in Harrisburg on October 18, 2023. NeighborWorks won the Community Partnership Award, and Pamela Anslinger, HomeOwnership Center Manager at NeighborWorks, received the Best Housing Counseling Specialist award. The Best Housing Counseling Specialist Award recognizes counselors who provide value-added housing counseling services to their clients. Agencies are encouraged to submit nominations for their counselors who have completed all PHFA-based training prior to the nomination. Pam was selected based on her experience in the housing counseling industry, holding National Housing Counseling Certifications, consistently achieving outcomes such as “purchased home” or mortgages refinanced,” consistently receiving positive feedback from her clients, and initiating innovative ways for NeighborWorks to achieve desired results or improve efficiency in workflows. “I am deeply honored and grateful to receive this award from PHFA. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our team at NeighborWorks and the incredible clients we have the privilege to serve,” said Pam. “It is our mission to empower individuals and families to make informed housing decisions, and I am proud to be part of this transformative journey.” The Community Partnership Award recognizes an agency whose outreach efforts to local community organizations have helped improve its program effectiveness and delivery. Selection criteria is based on the structure of the partnerships, how the partnerships enhances ability to provide quality counseling, the impact the partnerships have on the number of clients counseled, and client success stories that occurred as a result of the partnerships. We also wish to congratulate all of our fellow award recipients, including our fellow NeighborWorks America and NeighborWorks Association of Pennsylvania member agencies in NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania and Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks. Housing counselors from across the state attended the ceremony, representing 63 counseling agencies. These counselors help PHFA achieve its housing mission by assisting state residents with questions about homeownership, home foreclosure, budgeting, personal money management, and their personal credit score so they can make better informed housing decisions
NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania Holds SafetyWorks Week for Seniors NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NWNEPA) will serve 30 older adult homeowners in West Scranton with much needed interior and exterior painting and small repairs throughout Lackawanna County as part of SafetyWorks Week for Seniors, July 3th – 7th, 2023. More than 200 volunteers will be coming from all over the northern portion of the United States through a partnership between NeighborWorks and Group Mission Trips, Inc. to make the weeklong event possible. As NeighborWorks has recently kicked off West Side Scranton’s ten-year plan to increase livability in the area, the focus of the volunteer work for the week will be the West Scranton community. Throughout the week volunteers will provide exterior painting to whole homes, window frames and porches and steps. Interior painting of kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms will spruce up older homes adding value and increasing the quality of life for older adults who can no longer tend to their homes safely. NeighborWorks has hosted Group Mission Trips, Inc. volunteers for seven previous workcamps, mobilizing 2,158 volunteers, equating to approximately 50,000 hours of volunteer labor (worth over $1.4 million) to make needed repairs to over 320 separate properties in Lackawanna County. This year Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, along with Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, donated funds to provide the materials for the volunteers to use while serving the older adults in Scranton.
NeighborWorks NEPA Awards Home Improvement Grants NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania is pleased to partner with both the City of Scranton and the City of Carbondale to announce the block groups selected for funding in the 2023 Beautiful Blocks program cycle. With a total of 103 properties in Scranton and 34 properties in Carbondale being awarded grant funding, NeighborWorks staff and local officials expect to see a significant positive impact in neighborhoods where projects are set to take place. A full list of groups receiving funding is attached to this release. Beautiful Blocks is a home improvement program which provides matching grants of up to $1,000 per property to groups of residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. 2023 represents the fifth consecutive program cycle in Scranton for Beautiful Blocks, with the program entering its third consecutive cycle in Carbondale after launching in the Pioneer City in 2021. Members of selected groups have until November 1 to complete their individual exterior home improvement projects, with groups also eligible for a $500 stipend to conduct a community celebration or service project. According to NeighborWorks President & CEO Jesse Ergott, “Beautiful Blocks is all about bringing people together to improve the neighborhoods they call home. We are thrilled that the program is resonating with so many of our neighbors in both Scranton and Carbondale and are greatly appreciative of all of the funding partners who help to make it happen. We are looking forward to continued growth of this program in both communities as we facilitate both physical improvements to homes and strengthened connections between neighbors.” “It is so exciting to see our residents working as a team making improvements to their home and their neighborhoods,” said Michele Bannon, Carbondale City Clerk and former board chair for NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania. “Year two of Beautiful Blocks has made a tremendous impact on the City. Each year the program is growing bringing more homeowners together. It’s amazing to see the impact of committed, empowered homeowners on our community.” Beautiful Blocks in Carbondale is made possible with support from Lackawanna County Commissioners Jerry Notarianni, Debi Domenick, Esq., and Chris Chermak; with additional support from Millennium Packaging, Coterra Energy, Gentex, and other local businesses. “It’s inspiring to see the improvements made to our neighborhoods thanks to Beautiful Blocksprogram and out community-minded residents,” said Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti.“We’re thankful to the team at NeighborWorks and their volunteers who work with us to makeScranton a beautiful place to live.” Beautiful Blocks in Scranton is made possible with support from the City of Scranton, withadditional support from Community Bank, NA, The Dime Bank, M&T Bank, and The HonesdaleNational Bank. Over the first four cycles of Beautiful Blocks in the City of Scranton, more than 340 individualprojects have been completed by Scranton residents, grouped into 45 block groups. More than$287,000 in grant funding has been distributed to as part of these projects, with participatingresidents contributing more than $735,000 in matching funds to improving their neighborhoods. In the first two years of the Beautiful Blocks program operating in Carbondale, seven groups ofneighbors have participated, with more than $37,000 in grant funding awarded. This grantfunding helped to leverage more than $66,000 in funds invested from participatinghomeowners. Residents of Scranton and Carbondale who are interested in participating in future cycles ofthe Beautiful Blocks program are encouraged to access more information by visiting theprogram homepage at https:// www.nwnepa.org/programs/beautiful-blocks.html. Moreinformation is also available by contacting Gerard Hetman, NeighborWorks NortheasternPennsylvania Community Development Specialist, at (570) 558-2490 orghetman@nwnepa.org.
The Dime Bank donated $10,000.00 to NeighborWorks NEPA Lackawanna County, PA / April 7, 2023 / Earlier this year, The Dime Bank donated $10,000.00 to NeighborWorks Northeastern PA via the Neighborhood Assistance Program. NeighborWorks rejuvenates neighborhoods and creates opportunities for individuals and families to improve their lives through quality housing and financial guidance. This donation will support the 2023 Scranton Beautiful Blocks Program. The program provides matching grants of up to $1,000.00 to each member of a group of at least five Scranton residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. Grants are awarded annually through a competitive application process. “We want to sincerely thank The Dime Bank for their generous contribution towards this year’s Beautiful Blocks Program in Scranton,” said Jesse Ergott, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania President & CEO. “We are grateful for their commitment to making a positive impact in our community and beyond.” “As a community bank, The Dime Bank is proud to partner with NeighborWorks and contribute to their efforts of revitalizing neighborhoods and building community connections. We are excited to be part of their Beautiful Blocks Program that encourages teamwork among neighbors and invests in property improvement,” stated William Boyle, The Dime Bank Senior Vice President Chief Lending Officer. About The Dime Bank The Dime Bank is committed to being involved in and contributing to our community’s development. If you are passionate about your future, choose The Dime Bank as your financial partner. Serving its primary market of Northeast Pennsylvania since 1905, the bank offers a full array of financial services and solutions. Community banking yields community benefits. Dimeco, Inc., parent company of The Dime Bank, trades on the OTCQX Marketplace under symbol DIMC. For more information on The Dime Bank, visit www.thedimebank.com. 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. Pictured: Brian C. Urbas, The Dime Bank Vice President Commercial Lending Officer; William R. Boyle, The Dime Bank Senior Vice President Chief Lending Officer; Jessica L. Capwell, The Dime Bank Assistant Vice President Steamtown Branch Manager; Jesse Ergott, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania President & CEO; Maurice E. Dennis, The Dime Bank Vice President Commercial Lending Officer.
NeighborWorks Receives Contribution NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) recently accepted a contribution from The Dime Bank (Dime), in the amount of $10,000 through the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP).The contribution will support the Scranton Beautiful Blocks Program for 2023. Beautiful Blocks, which is jointly sponsored by NeighborWorks and the City of Scranton, provides matching grants of up to $1,000 to each member of a group of at least five Scranton residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. Grants are awarded annually through a competitive application process.“As a community bank, The Dime Bank is proud to partner with NeighborWorks and contribute to their efforts of revitalizing neighborhoods and building community connections. We are excited to be part of their Beautiful Blocks program that encourages team work among neighbors and invests in property improvement,” stated William Boyle, The Dime Bank Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer.“We want to sincerely thank The Dime Bank for their generous contribution towards this year’s Beautiful Blocks program in Scranton,” said Jesse Ergott, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania President & CEO. “We are grateful for their commitment to making a positive impact in our community and beyond.”
