Small communities and neighborhoods have big dreams, but sometimes they need support to turn those dreams into reality. Supporting dreams is the core idea behind the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) of Pittsburgh’s Blueprint Communities® initiative. By participating, leaders receive training and resources to address long-term revitalization needs in their communities and neighborhoods. With sustainable planning, access to resources, and leadership training, Blueprint Communities are prepared to pursue success.
Created by FHLBank Pittsburgh in 2005, this initiative has supported cohorts from Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia for nearly 20 years. The Blueprint Communities are part of FHLBank’s mission to “build strong, long-term relationships with a network of suppliers, businesses and community partners.” Since its inception, Blueprint Communities has leveraged[1] $600 million in public and private funding, $41 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) funding, and $92 million in additional products from FHLBank. These funds, alongside the nearly 700 diverse leaders who are, or have participated, have enhanced the lives and wellbeing of 74+ communities in the FHLBank’s service region.
Building a sustainable program that spans three states and dozens of communities requires more than money. What does it take to develop a blueprint for success? The Blueprint Communities initiative puts the right people in the right place with a strong purpose.
Who participates in the Blueprint Communities initiative?
Every few years, a new cohort of community leaders comes together to celebrate the beginning of an exciting partnership. Community leaders arrive with a vision for revitalizing their rural communities or underserved urban communities. After forming their cross-sector team and applying to participate, communities commit to developing a sustainable, five-year revitalization plan. Participating in the Blueprint Communities initiative helps communities intentionally grow their organizational capacity, supporting them as they not only create five-year plans, but also execute those plans successfully.
Participants must come from a community (which can be a municipality, county, region, or neighborhood) with fewer than 30,000 residents. Smaller communities often lack access to resources, but Blueprint Communities helps address this. According to Fred Bañuelos, Community Investment and Business Development Manager at the bank, “In smaller communities, we see a lot of folks with great ideas who just don’t have the resources to get their plans off the ground. In addition to AHP funds and other products, we also provide training, but really, we’re conveners. We bring people together. We guide them, but they know so much about their communities. We help leaders put different pieces of the puzzle together.” These community teams are made up of local leaders of community organizations and economic development professionals, real estate developers or specialists, local government officials, and one or more representatives from FHLBank’s member financial institutions.
FHLBank partners with leading state organizations to implement the initiative. These partners are vital to the success of Blueprint Communities. The Pennsylvania Downtown Center supports participants in Pennsylvania with planning and development, marketing, asset mapping, and other skills. The University of Delaware Center for Community Research & Service provides these services for communities in Delaware, and the West Virginia Community Development Hub does the same for West Virginia participants.
Purposeful Planning
For the newest cohort of 10 Pennsylvania towns, goals are as varied as the people and communities involved. Goals include developing more affordable housing, growing tourism, creating opportunities for new business, and improving infrastructure. Fulton Bank, one of FHLBank Pittsburgh’s member institutions, is part of the team supporting the City of Sunbury as they work to become a Blueprint Community.
Christi Emel is the Financial Center Manager at Fulton Bank and a resident of Sunbury. At the kick-off event, Ms. Emel told attendees, “Everyone [wants] to see the city, nonprofits, and organizations work together, but no one has a plan or pathway to do that. The Blueprint Communities [initiative] is going to give us that plan.”
Sunbury Revitalization Inc. (SRI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, applied for the initiative and organized the team that will guide Sunbury’s success. Their goal is to revitalize Sunbury’s downtown, with hopes of improving housing and job opportunities in the process. The Blueprint Communities initiative aligns with SRI’s mission and values. Community leaders in Sunbury feel energized as they embark on an 18-month journey to become a Blueprint Community.
Blueprint Communities help the bank maintain and strengthen these ties to their members, even during times of economic stress. According to Mr. Bañuelos, “This initiative was born at a time when the bank did not have high earnings. We give 10% of our earnings back [through affordable housing grants], and in times when our earnings decreased, this program was a way for the bank to continue supporting communities in all economic cycles.”
The newest cohort of Blueprint Communities will experience 18 months of training, support, and access to resources. At the end of the process, they will become certified Blueprint Communities®, a designation that lasts 10 years. The network of relationships among community leaders, developers, and financial institutions leads to positive outcomes for many participants. Most importantly, these successes are sustainable due to purposeful planning by committed people who are dedicated to seeing their communities thrive.