$500,000 planning grant from the Recompete Pilot Program will help historically disadvantaged residents overcome barriers to employment
Earlier this year, Casey pushed for Biden Administration to select PA applicants for Recompete funding and Casey sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Raimondo urging the approval of Allentown’s application to program
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA), and Congresswoman Susan Wild (D-PA) secured an economic development grant for Allentown help the city identify and create a plan for tackling locally-specific barriers to prime age employment, such as access to child care, transportation, and educational opportunities. The $500,000 strategy development grant comes from the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program, which was established by the CHIPS and Science Act. The City also received approval of their Recompete Plan, a designation that will allow Allentown to compete for between $20 and $50 million in implementation funding in Phase II of the Recompete program.
“This groundbreaking award will not only create jobs for residents of Allentown’s historical disadvantaged neighborhoods but provide them with the tools and support they need to secure those jobs, like access to child care, transportation, and skills training,” said Senator Casey. “When folks have the skills and the resources they need to compete for good-paying jobs, they can provide for their families, get quality health care, and improve their quality of life. This is a game-changer for Allentown, and an example of how the CHIPS and Science Act is providing economic opportunity across Pennsylvania.”
“I’m proud to have joined with our delegation to fight for this funding and help Allentown connect residents with good-quality jobs. We need to make sure that no town or place is left behind, and this investment in Allentown’s workforce will help people there find jobs and spur economic development,” said Senator Fetterman.
“This game-changing investment will expand economic opportunity for Allentown by creating good-paying jobs and tackling key barriers to employment that too many of our neighbors face,” said Congresswoman Wild. “Through addressing challenges like access to transportation, child care, and job-training, this grant will help make sure that every family can work hard and get ahead. I’m proud to have pushed to deliver this investment in Allentown’s economy, and I’ll continue fighting to expand opportunity for everyone across our community.”
“Governor Josh Shapiro and our Administration are focused on building a more dynamic economy in Pennsylvania by investing in our workforce and strengthening our communities, and this grant award through the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program will help boost those efforts,” said Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger. “Allentown will use this funding to help individuals overcome barriers to employment, like the lack of childcare, transportation, and job training – as well as make critical investments in industrial site preparedness and small business support services – expanding our workforce in Pennsylvania and paving the way for real growth. I want to thank the Economic Development Administration and Department of Commerce teams, as well as Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation, for their support in securing this award.”
“While Lehigh Valley's economy is strong and growing, residents of the City of Allentown have faced challenges in accessing jobs in the region,” said Mayor Matthew Tuerk. “Our Recompete Plan focuses on engaging with partners in labor, non-profit, and the private sector to address the barriers that our residents face, from skills gaps and transportation hurdles to lack of support services and limited child care options. I'm incredibly excited that the Biden-Harris Administration is making smart investments in cities to improve our economy and help strengthen the middle class.”
After voting to establish the Recompete program in the CHIPS and Science Act, Senator Casey advocated to ensure that Allentown would be included in the program. In October, he wrote a letter of support to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in support of Allentown’s application to the program. Additionally, in a letter to Assistant Secretary Alejandra Castillo of the Economic Development Agency, Congresswoman Wild pushed for the City of Allentown to receive this key grant that will address barriers to employment and expand economic opportunity for the City.
The Recompete Pilot Program makes targeted investments in communities struggling with high prime-age employment gaps and reflects an increased commitment at the federal level to spurring economic development in communities that have long been left behind. By making large, place-based investments, the program allows persistently distressed communities to address the barriers to employment most prevalent in their own regions.
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