NeighborWorks Honored with “Townie” Award

NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) was recently recognized for the success of its Beautiful Blocks program with a 2022 “Townie” Award from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC).

Presented in the category of “Physical Improvements & Design: Program-Wide Façade Rehabilitation,” the award honors the Beautiful Blocks program, which provides matching funding support to groups of residents in Scranton and Carbondale to assist in making exterior improvements to their homes.

“Our team is most appreciative of the recognition by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center of our Beautiful Blocks program with a 2022 Townie Award,” Jesse Ergott, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania President & CEO, said of the award. “To see the significant positive impact made in neighborhoods throughout Scranton and Carbondale by Beautiful Blocks recognized by our peers across the Commonwealth in this way is something we celebrate with all of the neighbors whose participation made this innovative program possible.”

The Townie Award was presented during the Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s 2022 Townie Awards Gala Dinner, held in late June in Harrisburg as part of the organization’s annual conference. Todd Pousley, Neighborhood Revitalization Manager, accepted the award on behalf of our organization. Joining Todd were staff members Gerard Hetman (Community Development Specialist) and Miranda Pace (West Scranton Neighborhood Coordinator). Also joining them was Wayne Evans, a NeighborWorks board member who originally developed the Beautiful Blocks program during his past service as Scranton Mayor.

Since 2019, the Beautiful Blocks program has awarded more than $235,000 in funding to 37 groups of residents in Scranton and Carbondale. These funds have been matched with over $500,000 in matching funds from participating residents, resulting in the completion of more than 280 home improvement projects and a total investment of more than $750,000 into neighborhoods in both communities.