WEST CHESTER (November 19, 2021) – Habitat for Humanity of Chester County and the Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance were awarded more than $91,000 in total state funding to support their ongoing efforts to provide affordable housing and energize growth and development in Coatesville, state Senator Carolyn Comitta said.
The funding was awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), which supports nonprofit, business, and residential projects in distressed areas or low-income neighborhoods.
The program has five main components: The Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), Special Program Priorities (SPP), the Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP), the Charitable Food Program (CFP), and the Enterprise Zone Program (EZP).
Habitat for Humanity of Chester County (HfHCC) in Coatesville was awarded $11,250 from the Special Program Priorities (SPP). The SPP aims to assist low-income families facing high rental rates, improve living conditions in the community, and boost growth and development.
HfHCC will use the funds to construct homes at Cambria Terrace, an affordable housing development in the city. In 2021-22, volunteers will complete a new home and start three more in the Cambria neighborhood that will provide four low-income families with affordable homeownership.
The Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance was awarded $80,000 from the Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) for the downtown revitalization in the City of Coatesville. Projects are designed to improve access to job and economic opportunities, quality education, affordable housing, quality-of-life amenities, and other key factors in building healthy communities.
The funds will be used to support the alliance’s fourth year of its downtown revitalization plan, focusing on the retention, celebration, and promotion of the existing business base. The alliance plans to employ creative strategies to encourage new patrons such as engaging social media, special events, and coupon vouchers underwritten by NPP funds. In addition, the NPP funding will support façade improvement grants, a systemized, reliable, and regular street cleanup program, and collaborative partnerships with the city to address blighted and vacant buildings.
Senator Comitta, who recently helped mark the groundbreaking of the new Coatesville Train Station, welcomed continued investments in the city’s ongoing revitalization.
“Ensuring that our neighborhoods and communities are safe, healthy, and welcoming for all begins with supporting affordable quality housing opportunities and revitalizing our downtowns, main streets, and local business districts,” Comitta said. “These programs also offer Coatesville residents, community members, and business owners an opportunity to play a leading role in their future success and growth.”
“Communities from every corner of Pennsylvania will benefit from this funding – the result of public-private partnerships and cooperation,” said Gov. Wolf. “We are pleased to continue supporting NAP applicants who are committed to advancing and improving communities by making thoughtful plans to address the issues impacting their neighborhoods. These projects make the state stronger as a whole and keep it the best place to live, work, and play.”
“NAP funding can support improved community health, property renovations, address food security and blight, and so much more in neighborhoods throughout the commonwealth,” said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary (DCED) Dennis Davin. “This program is incredibly valuable in encouraging public-private partnerships that lead to community improvements and a better quality of life for Pennsylvanians.”
NAP encourages private sector investment into projects that will help improve financially distressed communities by providing tax credits to businesses that donate capital to support projects that address neighborhood and community problems. NAP can be used for projects in categories including affordable housing, community services, crime prevention, education, job training, charitable food, blight, special population issues, veteran’s initiatives, and long-term community revitalization
This year’s program also provided for COVID-19 and social justice-related assistance. In recognition of the unprecedented level of challenges these events posed for residents of the commonwealth, a special emphasis was placed upon, and priority was given, to projects that sought to address critical issues related to the pandemic, its aftermath and recovery, social justice and support for policy changing movements, and improving opportunities for marginalized populations.
The Coatesville projects come as part of sixty community investments through NAP in the southeast Pennsylvania region to address blight and improve safety, housing, and commercial development. Other projects updated community revitalization plans, increased financial literacy, improved community gardens, and promoted healthy communities.
Statewide, this round of NAP funding provided nearly $36 million in total investments to 220 community revitalization projects across the Commonwealth.
More info about the NAP program.
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