Technical Assistance
Resources
Training/Funding Opportunities
Evaluations

Technical Assistance (GSPIA)

• Brochure (PDF)
• Operating Procedures (PDF)
• Assistance Request Form (DOC)

Resources

Blueprint Communities participants are offered a number of resources to assist them in developing and implementing their community revitalization plans. Check back periodically for additional resources.

• Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh Community Investment Programs
  • Affordable Housing Program - grants/loans for affordable housing projects & special needs populations
  • Banking On Business - assistance for start-up and expansion costs for small businesses
  • Community Lending Program - below-market-rate loans for all kinds of community investment projects
  • First Front Door - grants for qualified first-time homebuyers
    
    
• "Prospective Homebuyers:Tell Them 'The Secret'...Now!" — article by Jeri Stumpf, Governor's Office of Housing and Community Revitalization (published in Municipal Reporter, Summer 2005, PA League of Cities and Municipalities)

• Materials from 10/19/05 Housing Development Seminar
  • Jack Johnston's Presentation – "Understanding Your Housing Market" (PDF)
  • Jeremy Newberg's Presentation – "The Development Process" (PowerPoint)
  • Development Process Flowchart (PDF)
  • Chris Gulotta/Andrew Haines Presentation – "Development and Funding Options" (PowerPoint)
    
    
• Strategic Plan Guide - Community Profile Introduction (PDF)
  
  
• "Back Home with Blueprint Communities" Booklet (PDF)

• The Community Revitalization Desktop Guide provides a comprehensive model for community revitalization. Offered by the PA Department of Economic & Community Development, the Guide can be of use to communities in any state: http://www.newpa.com/default.aspx?id=479. 

• DataPlace by KnowledgePlex offers a one-stop source for data about your community, or any other place in the U.S. This site provides up-to-date information from several sources, including customized maps.

  Through DataPlace, you can:

  • Look up demographic, economic, housing, and mortgage lending data from US Census, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, and other data sets
  • Find key statistics on any region in the US through maps, charts, tables and rankings
    

  It's a great resource for helping you to compile information for creating your community strategy.

• 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania is an alliance of organizations and individuals committed to enhancing the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians by focusing on promoting policies and actions that will revitalize cities, boroughs and older suburbs; preserve farmland and rural resource lands; conserve our natural, heritage and fiscal resources; and improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians.

Training/Funding Opportunities

From time to time, various institutions, agencies or organizations offer opportunities for funding, program participation, advisory assistance or other support. As we become aware of them, we'll post them here. Please let us know about any opportunities you come across, whether or not you've actually taken advantage of them.

• Training:Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) Homeownership Programs Webinars, July 2009. For more information, click here.

• Training: Foreclosure-Response.org: A New Tool to Help Communities Prevent Foreclosures and Stabilize Neighborhoods. Online chat: Wednesday, February 18 at 1:30 p.m. To listen, click here.
  

Evaluations

• Six-month Performance Evaluation Summary (by Ohmer & Associates)
• Overall Evaluation Summaries (by Ohmer & Associates)
• Kickoff Event Evaluation Summary (by Ohmer & Associates)

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