Outreach Center for Community Resources to Hold Ribbon Cutting Outreach – Center for Community Resources will host a ribbon cutting for its new Young Adult Center (YAC) on Thursday, July 11, 2024, from 10 AM – 1 PM. The ribbon cutting will take place at 11 AM. The YAC is located on the lower level of the Outreach Seventh Avenue Center, 431 North 7th Avenue, Scranton, PA, 18503. Outreach is excited to celebrate the opening of the YAC. The YAC is a newly renovated space at the Seventh Avenue Center and has been serving young people ages (14-24) since January. Programs include youth services to help young people transition into adulthood. Many of the young people served by the Center have had previous involvement in the justice system, are aging out of the foster care system, have withdrawn from high school, or need an extra support system due to family circumstances. The Center is staffed with a Youth Services Manager and three full-time Independent Living Case Managers. The YAC works closely with other Outreach team members to provide full wraparound services, including GED tutoring, workforce development training, life skills, and parenting classes. When needed, Outreach refers to outside agencies for additional services. Outreach – Center for Community Resources offers a variety of programs, with respect for the individual and with the highest professional standards, that promote family stability and economic self-sufficiency. For over 35 years, Outreach has served residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania with evidence-based programming, including home-visiting programs Parents as Teachers®, SafeCare® Augmented, Parent/Child Play & Learn Groups, the Incredible Years® parent training program, family reunification, supervised visitation, prison reentry, life skills programming, GED, and workforce development services. Outreach was privileged to serve nearly 5,000 individuals across the region last year. For more information, please visit www.outreachworks.org Upcoming Events.
Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau Hosts Grant Writing Workshop One for Nature, Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, and PennState Extension will host a full-day Grant Writing Workshop on Thursday, July 25 at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. Whether you’re new to the world of grants or have some experience as a grants writer, this workshop will break the grant writing process down into workable strategies to ensure a more successful outcome. Program components will include…the Grant Seeking Process, Components and Expectations, Showcasing and Managing Your Project, and Grant Review Process and Follow-up. The program will include engaging instruction, a panel discussion, as well as educational activities. Tickets are $40.00 per person and include light breakfast, refreshments, lunch and materials. Ticket purchases directly support One for Nature. Registration is required and space is limited. There are currently 25 spots remaining. Once all seats are sold out, registration will be closed. Deadline to register is Monday, July 22, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
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.”
UNC Holds Pine Brook NPP Community Celebration United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) invites the public to our Pine Brook NPP Community Celebration. This event celebrates the significant contributions of our Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) investors: Cottera Energy, FNCB Bank, and Peoples Security Bank & Trust. The celebration is scheduled for Friday, June 21, 2024, from 2 PM to 4 PM, at the Capouse Corner Green Space, 1371 Capouse Avenue at New York Street in Scranton. The event will feature food, games, a plant giveaway, and fun activities for the community to enjoy. We ask attendees to bring a book to donate to the Little Free Library located in the space. This celebration highlights the generous $50,000 annual contributions from Cottera Energy, FNCB Bank, and Peoples Security Bank & Trust through the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP). These contributions, totaling a $900,000 investment over six years, are instrumental in our ongoing efforts to rebuild, restore, and revitalize the Pine Brook community, a designated Elm Street Community through the Pennsylvania Keystone Communities program.
The Swiftwater to Host Job Fair The Swiftwater is open! They are looking to expand their staff to meet the demand of the 100-room hotel and their new in-house restaurant, Olivet. They will host a job fair on June 24th at Desaki restaurant from 8am-11am & 3pm-6pm. They will be hiring for: Front Desk Reservations Auditor Housekeeping Bartender Server Hostess Houseman Laundry Concierge Bellmen/Valet Stop by to talk with managers for onsite interviews and to learn more about the positions. “We are continuing to grow and are looking for more team members to help us get started” says managing partner Dante Trapasso, “The Swiftwater is excited to provide jobs for motivated individuals.” Anyone with questions can email the management team at info@theswiftwater.com.
A United Front: County and Chamber Work Together to Expand Business and Workforce Development in the Region Scranton, PA–June 7, 2024— Lackawanna County and The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce announced a strategic partnership focused on business and workforce development at a press conference on Wednesday, June 12. Held at The Chamber, County Commissioners Bill Gaughan, Matt McGloin, and Chris Chermak, along with Chamber President Bob Durkin, presented The Chamber will primarily be managing business development, marketing, and lead management for Lackawanna County. These efforts will be in collaboration with the County’s Planning and Economic Development Office. The strong united front will allow a streamlined process, reduce duplication of efforts, and ensure a coordinated approach to economic development. The Chamber’s Board Chair, Attorney Jerry Musheno, commented, “This partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to attract, sustain, and grow business and jobs in northeastern Pennsylvania. By leveraging our combined resources and expertise, we will create a thriving economic environment for our community.” In the multi-year plan presented at the press conference, Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan emphasized the pledge of $495,000 to enhance economic development and entrepreneurship in the county. Over three years, the County will provide a total of $75,000 to support the program and administrative management at the Carbondale Technology Transfer Center (CTTC). The CTTC is an entrepreneur and light-industrial incubation program. The Chamber entered a management agreement with the CTTC board of directors over a year ago. “The County and The Chamber have been partners on many projects throughout the years. What we are doing today is solidifying and formalizing the economic and workforce partnership for the future. Building on years of success at The Chamber and committing County resources to support small businesses—which are the economic engine of Lackawanna County,” shared Commissioner Bill Gaughan. In addition, the County has allotted $420,000 to fund three additional cohorts of TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty—the 10-week entrepreneur training program for tech-based, for-profit ideation businesses. The County has funded two cohorts that graduated 15 entrepreneurs in conjunction with The Chamber, INGITE, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of NEPA, and tecBRIDGE. “This collaboration aims to attract new businesses, support the expansion of existing ones, create job opportunities, and further bolster entrepreneurial support. We will focus on key industry sectors such as advanced manufacturing, food and beverage production, energy, technology, and bio/life sciences, aligning with Pennsylvania’s economic development strategic plan. Additionally, we are committed to providing entrepreneurs with the resources and support networks they need to succeed in Lackawanna County, enhancing opportunities for companies in light industrial and kitchen incubation,” shared Bob Durkin, president of The Chamber.
