Friendly neighbors building communities

Nov 7, 2024 | Community Involvement

As a staple of central and eastern Pennsylvania for over 100 years, we understand the critical importance of economic development. Through our growth as a company, we have powered businesses and empowered growth within communities throughout our 29-county service area. 

We are committed to doing what we can to not only attract new businesses to our region, but also supporting the existing businesses and communities that have helped make Pennsylvania what it is today. 

One of the ways we support our communities is through the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development’s (DCED) Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP). Whether it’s affordable housing, community services, crime prevention, job training or neighborhood assistance, we’re helping support nonprofit agencies working to better their neighborhoods through community development projects. We have been a long-time participant in the NPP program, and we value the positive impact this approach makes in each community. 

We are currently assisting six nonprofits across Lancaster, Wilkes-Barre and the Greater Lehigh Valley. 

“We could not have the level of beautification that we’ve had in downtown Wilkes-Barre without the assistance of PPL’s NPP contributions,” said Larry Newman, executive director of Wilkes-Barre’s Diamond City Partnership. “Having the partnership with PPL and other contributors allows us to leverage resources and punch far above our weight.” 

Here are the six organizations we’re currently partnered with: 

Community Action Development of Allentown (CADA) – Upside Allentown 

We are involved in a six-year partnership with Upside Allentown to provide support for several youth-serving organizations in distressed Allentown neighborhoods: 

• Generation Next at William Allen High School 

• AfterZone, Allentown’s after-school initiative 

• Allentown Police Department’s Youth Police Academy 

• James Lawson Freedom School

Support through our partnership also includes the acquisition and renovation of a community center. 

Community Action Development of Bethlehem – Southside Tomorrow 

Our six-year partnership with Southside tomorrow seeks to address a number of community-based needs: 

• A lack of quality, affordable renter and owner-occupied housing in an area of Bethlehem with the highest percentage of cost-burdened homeowners and renters 

• A lack of access to fresh food and grocery stores 

• A lack of vegetation and green spaces, as well as quality parks and recreational outlets 

• A need for improved lighting and walkability of south Bethlehem 

• A need for more connection between the community and the community’s institutions 

• Challenges with cleanliness 

Diamond City Partnership – Wilkes-Barre 

“We work to improve downtown Wilkes-Barre’s environment, image and economy,” Newman said. “We have goals to help improve these areas. The downtown is still feeling the impacts from COVID, and NPP funding is helping us achieve our goals more broadly and at a higher level.” 

Our six-year partnership with the Diamond City Partnership supports the nonprofit’s efforts to revitalize and beautify downtown Wilkes-Barre. 

“Our goal is to shape a downtown that is a point of pride for everyone in our region, not just the downtown,” Newman said. “You simply cannot have a healthy community or region without a healthy downtown at its core. That’s what drives us every day.” 

The organization was highlighted in a recent announcement for the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). The partnership program is a part of the NAP. In an event held at the Diamond City Partnership, Pennsylvania announced it would be doubling its funding for the NAP program from $36 million to $72 million. 

An alley in downtown Wilkes-Barre (left) was cleaned up and revitalized by the Diamond City Partnership. It has been repurposed into the SOMA Arts District (right), a new space for citygoers to visit and enjoy. This project was completed thanks in part to NPP funding.

“It was a chance to showcase to the Commonwealth and the media just what these partnerships can accomplish,” Newman said. “And we’re just very pleased and happy with the support that PPL has provided us because they understand how important this work is. They’ve been there for us.” 

Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley 

“At the base of our partnership is helping people meet their basic needs,” said Raymond Santiago, executive director of the Hispanic Center. “Meeting these needs allows people to flourish in their education, careers and family life, which in turn helps make a positive impact in the Lehigh Valley.” 

Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley is supported on a year-to-year basis through the NAP program. We support economic recovery efforts serving vulnerable populations, with a focus on providing bilingual services to Hispanic/Latino residents. We are also supporting: 

• A new bilingual Cultural and Linguistic Workforce Development Center 

• The Social Service Program’s case management services 

• Programming to support older adults’ health and wellness at the Hispanic Center’s senior center 

• Meeting an increased demand for emergency food at the center’s food pantry 

“We understand the importance of the work we do in making sure these groups are an active piece of the future of the Lehigh Valley,” Santiago said. “Right now, we’re able to meet the need of the community because of funding from PPL and our other partners.” 

Spanish American Civic Association (SACA) – Tec Centro 

Our six-year partnership with SACA’s Tec Centro program helps provide basic education and job training to low-income Latino individuals in Lancaster. The funding has helped SACA create two new occupational training areas for broadband training and renewable energy. Funding has also been used to invest in affordable housing, which is helping balance over-gentrification in the community. Furthermore, these contributions have been used to help leverage additional investments from Lancaster City and Lancaster County totaling $1 million. These investments will help develop a welding and metal fabrication occupational training area at Tec Centro. 

Tenfold 

We also have a six-year partnership with Lancaster’s Tenfold. Tenfold serves low-income residents of the City of Lancaster and Columbia Borough to help those experiencing housing and financial instability due to rising costs, stagnant wages and the aftermath of a global pandemic. The organization is using NPP funds to:

• Make critical home repairs to homeowners  

• Support local affordable housing projects 

• Provide eviction prevention assistance 

The funds are also being used by Tenfold’s Financial Empowerment Center to provide one-on-one financial counseling, as well as workshops on budgeting, savings, improving credit scores and first-time homebuyer’s courses. 

We take great pride in our NPP partnerships, and in the work that these organizations are doing to help build up their communities. We also know that these effects will be felt well beyond those directly impacted by these partnerships. A commitment to economic development is a commitment to community, and we look forward to continuing to support the places where we live and work. 

“Even before I began working with the Hispanic Center, I worked closely with PPL on a number of campaigns,” Santiago said. “I know how much they care. It’s not only about the financial support, but also the time and talent that PPL employees donate.”