News Release

Contact: Neil Cotiaux, FHLBank of Pittsburgh: 412-288-2851; cell: 330-703-0753; Neil.cotiaux@fhlb-pgh.com
Kate Philips, press secretary, Office of the Governor, 717-783-1116

RENDELL ANNOUNCES REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE: 22 OLDER CITIES, NEIGHBORHOODS TO GET A LIFT FROM 'BLUEPRINT COMMUNITIES'

HARRISBURG, PA, August 9, 2005 - Gov. Edward G. Rendell today announced the 22 Pennsylvania communities chosen to receive comprehensive training, technical assistance and funding opportunities for hometown revitalization.

Gov. Rendell revealed the cities, towns and neighborhoods selected to participate in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh's (FHLBank's) new Blueprint Communities initiative at an announcement in the Rotunda of the State Capitol. The initiative will help local community leaders develop a comprehensive, long-term community vision, specific revitalization plans including sources of funding, and a timeline for putting concrete plans into action.

The governor announced the following Blueprint Communities: Aliquippa, Berwick-LaSalle Street, Brownsville-Downtown/Northside, Canonsburg, Carnegie, Connellsville, Etna, Hamburg, Irwin, Kennett Square-East Linden, Lebanon-Northwest, McKeesport, New Kensington-Downtown, Philadelphia-Norris Square, Philadelphia-Tioga, Pittsburgh-Hazelwood, Pittsburgh-Larimer, Reading-Callowhill, Tamaqua, Uniontown-East End, Waynesburg and Wilkinsburg.

"Blueprint Communities provides the leaders of nearly two dozen Pennsylvania communities with the active support of more than a dozen public and private partners as they seek to build a better future," said Gov. Rendell. "The progress these teams display over the next few months will inspire others to mobilize for meaningful change, neighborhood by neighborhood, block by block and family by family. We look forward to witnessing the positive results of their collective efforts."

Starting next month, a leadership team from each community will participate in comprehensive training, funded by the FHLBank and its strategic partners, and designed to help them plan for and carry out effective revitalization efforts. Team members include representatives of local government, community nonprofits, banks, business and, in some cases, youth.

Research by the FHLBank examined strategies designed to encourage communities to approach revitalization holistically, taking into account physical, economic and social needs, and not just select areas of development. Plans developed during training will encompass housing, infrastructure, economic stimulation and healthy, safe surroundings as part of overall community planning. Workshop trainers will focus on leadership skills, strategic planning methods and organizational capacity building to assist local leaders in getting their plans off the ground.

Blueprint Communities is the creation of the FHLBank. The Bank launched its initiative earlier this year with the support of 15 strategic partners including the Governor's Office of Housing and Community Revitalization, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and other government agencies, corporations and universities.

A statewide advisory group assembled by the Bank selected the 22 Blueprint Communities unveiled today. A total of 60 communities had initially been referred to the Bank for consideration, with 28 proposals submitted during the review process. The final 22 were selected from the 28 that tendered written proposals.

Joining Gov. Rendell at today's event was James D. ("Jay") Roy, president and chief executive officer of the FHLBank of Pittsburgh; John J. Bendel, director of Community Investment at the FHLBank; strategic partners from government, business and academia; and leadership teams from each of the 22 participating communities. During the event, the governor presented each team with a large banner to be displayed in a prominent location in their community.

"We're 16 partners and 22 teams - well over 100 individuals committed to action," Roy said. "Each of us is a catalyst for improving the lives of our friends and neighbors. And as we lend a helping hand to one another, the fruits of our labors can only grow stronger."

The Heartland Center for Leadership Development, a nationally recognized authority on leadership and community development, will conduct four full days of revitalization training for the teams announced today. An additional day of training will focus on development of housing stock. Training for eastern Pennsylvania communities will be held at the Willow Valley Resort in Lancaster, PA September 15-16 and December 13-14. Training for western Pennsylvania communities will be held September 7-8 and December 7-8 at Hidden Valley Resort near Donegal, PA. Interim training for all teams will be held at Hidden Valley on October 19.

Benefits to the selected communities include:

• Four days of leadership and development training, materials, meals and lodging
• A one-day capacity and technical training session
• A community profile highlighting key indicators and trends
• Potential for interim technical assistance after completion of the first two-day session
• Opportunities for grant assistance upon graduation
• A complete action plan for improving a specific community or neighborhood
• Ongoing technical assistance
• A chance to renew leadership skills and build a team for action

"By the completion of training, communities will have developed a vision, a draft community plan and a clear action strategy, including a funding strategy, a process to measure outcomes and a timeline to move their process forward," said Bendel. "Our hope is that Blueprint Communities will build capacity, momentum and trust among community stakeholders, as well as provide the basis for the development and implementation of practical, achievable strategies in participating communities."

Funding partners for the Blueprint Communities initiative include Pennsylvania Rural LISC, PNC Bank, Sovereign Bank and the FHLBank of Pittsburgh.

Program partners include the Governor's Office of Housing and Community Revitalization, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Philadelphia Neighborhood Development Collaborative, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, University of Pittsburgh - Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, U.S.D.A. Rural Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and the Heartland Center for Leadership Development.

The FHLBank of Pittsburgh, with assets of $61 billion, serves nearly 340 financial institution members in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It is one of twelve FHLBanks, all private cooperatively owned banks that provide wholesale housing finance, community lending and correspondent banking services to member banks, savings and loan institutions, credit unions and insurance companies.