NeighborWorks NEPA Announces Grants Awarded in Scranton

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 2022 Beautiful Blocks program cycle.

With a total of 101 properties in Scranton being awarded grants, NeighborWorks staff expects an approximate total of $80,000 in grant funding to be awarded to Scranton residents. Based on past results, an approximate total of $160,000 in matching funds from residents is expected to be contributed to awarded projects. In Carbondale, a total of 40 properties are expected to see approximately $30,000 in grant funding awarded, with matching funding from residents expected to total $60,000. 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. 2022 represents the fourth consecutive program cycle in Scranton for Beautiful Blocks, with the program entering its second 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, The Dime Bank, and other local businesses.

“The Beautiful Blocks program creates an opportunity for community-building while making
improvements in our neighborhoods. The City was excited to see the continued interest in the
program this year,” said Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti. “I look forward to visiting the
neighborhoods to see the completed projects.”

Beautiful Blocks in Scranton is made possible with support from the City of Scranton, with
additional support from Community Bank, NA, The Dime Bank, M&T Bank, NBT Bank, Johnson
College, and The Honesdale National Bank.

Over the first three cycles of Beautiful Blocks in the City of Scranton, more than 260 individual
projects have been completed by Scranton residents, grouped into 34 block groups. More than
$219,000 in grant funding has been distributed to as part of these projects, with participating
residents contributing more than $485,000 in matching funds to improving their neighborhoods.

In the first year of the Beautiful Blocks program operating in Carbondale, three groups of
neighbors participated, with more than $15,000 in grant funding awarded. This grant funding
helped to leverage more than $30,000 in funds invested from participating homeowners.

Residents of Scranton and Carbondale who are interested in participating in future cycles of
the Beautiful Blocks program can 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.