NeighborWorks Taking Applications for Beautiful Blocks Program Applications will be accepted beginning Monday, February 5 for the 2024 cycle of Beautiful Blocks, a home improvement program jointly sponsored by NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania and the City of Scranton, City of Pittston, and City of Carbondale. Beautiful Blocks provides matching grants of up to $1,000 per property to groups of five or more residents in participating communities to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. The Beautiful Blocks program seeks to make neighborhoods throughout Scranton, Pittston, and Carbondale more attractive places to live. Eligible exterior improvements include everything from landscaping and painting to larger projects like sidewalks, front porch repair, door and window replacement, and more! This is the first year Beautiful Blocks is available to residents of the City of Pittston. Also new this year, Scranton residents who decide to replace their front sidewalk are eligible for an additional $3,000 in grant funds, on top of the $1,000 standard grant and the property owner’s $1,000 match.Grants will be awarded through a competitive application process. Applications will be judged on the number of participating residents, project impact and coordination, and the likelihood of neighbors continuing to work together in the future. Pre-applications are being accepted until. Monday, March 18. Awards will be announced in May, with work taking place throughout the summer.“We’re excited to kick-off the sixth year of Beautiful Blocks by expanding the program to the City of Pittston and offering a special incentive for Scranton residents to repair their sidewalks,” said NeighborWorks’ Director of Community Development, Todd Pousley. “Better sidewalks make a community more walkable, and other improvements to the outside of homes improve the quality of life for everyone who lives on a block.” Over the first five cycles of Beautiful Blocks in the City of Scranton, along with the first three Beautiful Blocks cycles in the City of Carbondale, more than 500 individual projects have been completed by participating residents, grouped into 69 block groups. More than $418,000 in grant funding has been distributed to as part of these projects, with participating residents contributing more than $1 million in matching funds to improving their neighborhoods. For residents in participating cities who are interested in applying for the 2024 program cycle, public information sessions will be held in each community next week: Monday, February 5, 5:30 p.m., Carbondale Public Library (Community Room)Tuesday, February 6, 6:00 p.m., Pittston Memorial Library (John P. Cosgrove Center)Wednesday, February 7, 6:00 p.m., Scranton Public Library (Henkelman Room) Scranton, Pittston and Carbondale residents interested in participating in the Beautiful Blocks program can download pre-application instructions and access the pre-application document (beginning Monday, February 5) by visiting www.nwnepa.org/programs/cd/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 to Host West Side Wonderland Initiative NeighborWorks is kicking off the inaugural West Side Wonderland initiative which includes a series of events, celebrations, and deals at West Scranton businesses. From the captivating Tree Lighting Celebration to the exciting ‘Where’s Westley’ scavenger hunt with prizes to local businesses ranging from $50 to $1,400 in value, this initiative promises merriment, excitement, and cherished memories to all who participate. On Saturday, December 2nd, Allen Park will become the hub of holiday cheer in West Scranton as it hosts a free Tree Lighting Celebration, starting at 4 pm. Families are invited to partake in cookie decorating, savor hot drinks, take photos with Santa, and enjoy sharing in a community celebration. The highlight of the evening unfolds at 6 pm when the tree lights up and we celebrate community and the coming of the winter season. The ‘Where’s Westley’ scavenger hunt adds an extra layer of excitement to the festivities, encouraging participants explore West Scranton while supporting local businesses. From December 2 through December 19, riddles will be unveiled at 8 am on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/westsidescranton) to guide participants to Westley’s secret location. The first 20 people to find Westley at each business will receive a special prize. They can get a special passport stamped at each location to enter for a chance to win one of many prizes ranging in value from $50 to $1,400. Shopping local takes on a new meaning during West Side Wonderland, as 14 local businesses join the festivities with exclusive deals and offers. Shoppers can mention the West Scranton Wonderland campaign to unlock these special discounts, adding warmth and charm to your holiday season. Visit westsidewonderland.com to view all the deals! This initiative is part of NeighborWorks’ West Scranton Neighborhood Plan, a comprehensive 10-year strategy for improving the neighborhood.
NeighborWorks Northeastern PA Receives Multiple Awards NeighborWorks Northeastern PA was recently recognized with two awards at the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency‘s housing counseling awards ceremony in Harrisburg yesterday. NeighborWorks snagged the Community Partnership Award, and to top it off, Pamela Anslinger, HomeOwnership Center Manager at NeighborWorks, was named Best Housing Counseling Specialist. Pam’s award is all about acknowledging housing counselors who go above and beyond to provide top-notch services to their clients. Pam earned her place thanks to her extensive experience in housing counseling, her National Housing Counseling Certifications, her knack for consistently helping folks achieve goals like purchasing a home or refinancing their mortgages, and for consistently receiving positive reviews from her clients. The Community Partnership Award goes to agencies that have made a big impact by collaborating with local community organizations. The criteria for this award focuses on the quality of those partnerships and how they enhance our ability to provide top-notch counseling. The impact these partnerships have on the number of clients we can assist is key, and we’ve seen some incredible success stories come out of these collaborations.
NeighborWorks Celebrates Family Fun at the West Scranton Fall Festival NeighborWorks had a wonderful time sharing in the fun at Clover Field and Allen Park for the second annual West Scranton Fall Festival, presented by PNC this past Saturday. Activities across the day included food and entertainment, children’s activities, bounce houses, yard games, a fire pit, s’mores, live music, and more! Over 600 people attended the festival across both events. They thank sponsors: presenting sponsor PNC Bank, gold sponsor Posture Interactive, silver sponsor Citizens Savings Bank, and bronze sponsors Bold Gold Media Group, Brianna Keeler from Comparion Insurance Agency, Fidelity Bank, the Scranton Area Community Foundation, and the University of Scranton. Food vendors were El Buen Amigo, The Little Ladybug Bakery, Hangin with the Big Dogs, and Fidelity’s ice cream truck. Live music was provided by Tori V & The Karma and Grupo Zona. We want to extend and additional thank you to the Youth Arts Coalition of NEPA, Scranton Fringe, Dani Long Legs and the Eclectic Circus, Kyle Mertz Juggling, DJ Cola, and our amazing volunteers! This initiative is part of the NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania West Scranton Revitalization Plan.Please contact Miranda Pace at mpace@nwnepa.org, or 570-558-2490 for additional information.
NeighborWorks to Host West Scranton Fall Festival NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania is excited to present its second annual West Scranton Fall Festival this year! This two-part event is FREE to the public and will be held on Saturday, September 16! The rain date is September 23.The first part of the festival will be at Clover Field (400 W Locust St, Scranton) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Available activities will include art activities, music, magic, bounce houses, disc golf, the Fidelity ice cream truck, food vendors, and more!The second part of the festival will be at Allen Park (corner of North Main Avenue and Price Street) from 6-9 p.m. There will be live music, a fire pit, games, s’mores, and hot chocolate. Attendees are encouraged to get dinner at one of the many local West Scranton restaurants.
NeighborWorks Meets with Legislators on Home Matters Day NeighborWorks Association of Pennsylvania (NWAP) took part in Home Matters Day at the State Capitol on June 6, joining hundreds of others to educate and inform legislators about the need for additional resources to support and sustain the creation of affordable housing throughout the state. Organized by the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Home Matters Day is an annual day of advocacy and education in Harrisburg that brings together stakeholders to increase housing resources, end homelessness, and eradicate blight in Pennsylvania. NeighborWorks Association of Pennsylvania is a membership-based statewide network of eight non-profit organizations dedicated to creating equitable housing options and improving quality of life across the Commonwealth. The collective group, as well as individual organizations, are charter members of NeighborWorks America, a network of nearly 250 nonprofit organizations across the United States that work together to create affordable housing, support residents, and strengthen communities. NeighborWorks builds skills, supplements resources, and amplifies the reach of network organizations to increase potential impact. NWAP member organizations include Arbor Housing and Development based in Corning, NY; HDC MidAtlantic in Lancaster, PA; NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania in Scranton, PA; NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh, PA; NHS of Greater Berks, Inc. in Reading, PA; PathStone Corporation in Chambersburg, PA; and New Kensington Community Development Corporation and HACE in Philadelphia, PA. During Home Matters Day, NWAP members met with elected officials to discuss the need for additional funding resources for affordable housing, including increasing the funding cap on the state housing trust fund (PHARE), and demonstrate the positive impact safe housing makes in people’s lives. Through the NeighborWorks network, NWAP members are able to leverage every dollar of federal funding into $102 of impact in communities, making a greater difference for those in need of safe and affordable housing. As individual nonprofits supported annually by NeighborWorks, NWAP utilizes impact data and analysis, direct work within communities, and on-the-ground support of individuals and families to help legislators understand the critical need for support of affordable housing throughout the Commonwealth. Home Matters Day took place during NeighborWorks Week this year, an annual week of service from June 3-10 that showcases the collective ways NeighborWorks members from across the country are able to strengthen communities. The theme of this year’s NeighborWorks Week was “Empowering Communities for Success.”
NeighborWorks Accepting Applications for Grants Applications are now being accepted for the fifth cycle of Beautiful Blocks, a home improvement program jointly sponsored by NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania and the City of Scranton. Beautiful Blocks provides matching grants of up to $1,000 per property to groups of five or more Scranton residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. The Beautiful Blocks program seeks to make neighborhoods throughout Scranton more attractive places to live. Eligible exterior improvements include everything from landscaping and painting to larger projects like sidewalks and lamp posts. Grants will be awarded through a competitive application process. Applications will be judged on the number of participating residents, project impact and coordination, and the likelihood of neighbors continuing to work together in the future. Pre-applications are being accepted until March 27. Awards will be announced in May, with work taking place throughout the summer. According to NeighborWorks President & CEO Jesse Ergott, “We look forward to neighbors coming together and taking collective steps to improve their neighborhoods throughout the City of Scranton in our fifth Beautiful Blocks program cycle. Our first four years in Scranton were a great success in seeing residents work together in making their neighborhood a better place through their involvement with Beautiful Blocks.” Over the first four cycles of Beautiful Blocks in the City of Scranton, more than 340 individual projects 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 participating residents contributing more than $735,000 in matching funds to improving their neighborhoods. Scranton residents interested in participating in the Beautiful Blocks program can download pre-application instructions and access the pre-application document by visiting the program homepage at https://www.nwnepa.org/programs/neighborhood-revitalization/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’ Kathi Tavera Receives HUD Certification Kathi Tavera, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Homeownership Specialist, recently received her HUD Housing Counseling certification from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). “We’re thrilled for Kathi to receive her HUD certification. This is a huge step for her professional development, but it also speaks volumes to her commitment to helping homeowners and homebuyers in the local community,” said Jesse Ergott, President & CEO of NeighborWorks.
NeighborWorks Names Gerard Hetman RULE Scholar The Rural Urban Leadership Program (RULE) of Penn State Extension, Penn State University, has named Gerard Hetman, Community Development Specialist at NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania, as a participating scholar in the upcoming RULE XIX class. RULE is a transformational leadership development program that brings together community leaders from across Pennsylvania to foster both professional and personal leadership development. Participants come from all lifestyles including farmers & agribusiness, community leaders & officials, business and private industries, and education practitioners. They have different interests, and goals, with one common thread: a commitment to public involvement in solving community problems. While the program has a strong focus on issues affecting rural Pennsylvania, RULE participants come from across the state, and study institutes are held in both rural and urban locations. Gerard is one of 24 incoming scholars that will participate in RULE XIX, with the class engaging in ten study institutes over the course of two years. “We are very excited for Gerard to be accepted as a scholar into the upcoming RULE XIX class,” said Jesse Ergott, President & CEO at NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania. “Anyone who knows Gerard recognizes his deep commitment to improving our community, and this respected program will allow him to do what he does best: to build strong, collaborative relationships with his fellow scholars in order to benefit our area and other communities like ours across the Commonwealth.” RULE XIX scholars will learn strategies for taking charge and leading their organizations and communities in positive directions. Through practice, each participant will assume new responsibilities and develop new skills and confidence. Every skill they learn will be directly and immediately applicable to the issues and problems facing their organizations and communities. Participants in the program will achieve various results: Increased understanding of the economic, political, cultural and social forces inherent to the public decision making process.Enhanced knowledge of the application of leadership skills, processes and strategies to resolve conflict.The ability to study community problems and issues from a broad economic, political, cultural and social perspective.Increased understanding of contemporary social and economic problems and policy issues, and how to effectively impact public policy.An understanding of the budgetary concerns encountered by rural/urban communities.An enhanced awareness of international relations and the world economy.A broadened understanding of the legislative process and legislative procedure.Increased ability and opportunity to participate in local government and non- profit community organizations.Expanded and strengthened leadership skills, the catalyst for the democratic process.The RULE program has its roots in the Public Affairs Leadership Program (PALP), which began in 1971 and included five classes. PALP accrued 259 graduates to their credit. RULE started in 1985 and has 450 alumni. Combined, the PALP and RULE Programs have graduated more than 700 alumni who have gone on to become catalysts for change in their communities.
