WILKES-BARRE — Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger on Thursday said the Shapiro Administration is committed to investing to strengthen Pennsylvania’s communities.
Siger was in town to announce the approval of $36 million through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) to assist low-income individuals and improve distressed areas.
“I think we get it,” Siger said at a news conference at 116 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre. “These projects, along with this year’s doubling of the Neighborhood Assistance Program, will have a tremendous positive impact on individuals and neighborhoods across our Commonwealth. When local communities are healthy and vibrant, Pennsylvania thrives.”
Siger said the NAP, which provides tax credits to businesses that contribute to nonprofit organizations’ efforts to revitalize communities, will support 185 projects across the Commonwealth.
• Seven projects in Luzerne County will receive a total of $1.5 million.
Siger was quick to note that NAP’s funding was doubled in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 state budget — from $36 million to $72 million — allowing for the opening of a second round of applications from Sept. 9, 2024, through Oct. 25, 2024.
Project awards for the second round of funding are expected to be announced later this year.
Secretary Siger announced the new statewide NAP funding during a visit to Wilkes-Barre, meeting with Diamond City Partnership representatives who are receiving a $190,000 NAP award to help develop downtown Wilkes-Barre.
Last year, the city was also a beneficiary of NAP, with an award toward developing the first downtown daycare center, Building Blocks Early Learning Center (BBELC).
Work ‘guided by the community’
Larry Newman, executive director of Diamond City Partnership, said through the BID and DCP’s management of downtown Wilkes-Barre’s designated Main Street program, they work to improve downtown’s environment, image and economy so the city center is a place in which everyone can take pride.
Newman said DCP accomplishes that by:
• Ensuring the downtown is consistently clean, safe and attractive.
• Helping existing businesses to succeed and recruiting new ones.
• Improving the product by creating lively, interesting and high-quality places.
• Marketing those places to the people they’re trying to attract.
• Planting the seeds for new economic growth.
“Our work is guided by a multi-year plan, guided by the community, and built around Downtown’s existing assets and market strengths,” Newman said. “That plan serves as our road map, and as the basis for our Main Street program designation.”
Newman said successful downtown strategies don’t just revolve around big projects — they also include all the small improvements that quietly and incrementally improve a place, step by step.
“We need to stay focused on the creation of a downtown that people visit because they want to be here — not one that they visit because they’re required to be here,” Newman said. “When we do that, we’ll continue to see downtown recovery and growth.”
Year to date, Newman said seven new storefront businesses have opened in the second block of South Main Street; there are 88 apartments which didn’t exist 10 years ago — and today Downtown has 1,000 more residents than it did in 2010.
“There’s economic value in the creation of great places,” Newman said. “Repositioning Downtown Wilkes-Barre as a college-anchored, walkable, ‘live-work’ neighborhood is an investment in creating a place that will attract the jobs and talent of the future to our city and region. This work takes patience, commitment and collaboration. I’ve said before that there’s a reason why DCP’s name includes the word ‘partnership.’”
Improving neighborhoods, regions
Lindsay Griffin-Boylan, president and CEO of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce & Chamber of Business & Industry, said the community is proud to host the announcement of the $36 million investment.
“This program allows communities like ours to support and improve our neighborhoods, create workforce solutions and jobs and reinvest and revitalize our regions to solve critical issues,” Griffin-Boylan said.
She said the program has funded 185 impactful programs, 27 of which are in the Northeast region, including a workforce program through the Chamber’s Luzerne Learns to Work effort.
“This program, in partnership with several workforce and career development agencies, will directly help students in our high schools with career development & industry experience for a sustainable workforce pipeline in our community,” Griffin-Boylan said.
The power of partnership
Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, said the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) provides tax incentives to nonprofits to help revitalize communities and create jobs.
“A perfect example of the success of the NAP program can be seen right here in the second block of South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre, which is the home of the Building Blocks Early Learning Center, which provides much-needed early education and daycare services in our downtown,” Pashinski said. “These investments improve the quality of life and the aesthetics of our city.”
Sen. Marty Flynn, D-Scranton, said Thursday’s announcement is a testament to the commitment to building stronger, more vibrant communities.
“These projects reflect the power of partnership and the incredible impact we can have when we work together toward a common goal,” Flynn said. “With the additional round of NAP funding, we are doubling down on our investment in the future of our neighborhoods, supporting innovative initiatives that will transform the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Area and communities across Pennsylvania.”