ALLENTOWN, PA – This morning, Congresswoman Susan Wild, Senator Bob Casey, and Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk held a press conference highlighting how the $500,000 federal Recompete Pilot Program grant they secured for the City of Allentown will allow the city to create jobs, tackle barriers to employment, and expand economic opportunity.

“By addressing key challenges Allentown residents face in securing good-paying jobs—like access to reliable transportation, affordable child care, and skills training—this investment will help ensure that every family can work hard and get ahead,” said Congresswoman Susan Wild. “I am proud to have pushed to deliver this initial funding to Allentown. Now, I’ll continue working to bring further investments home, to implement the city’s plan that will expand economic opportunity for our community.”

“Today in Allentown, we showed how the CHIPS and Science Act is delivering for Pennsylvania,” said Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). “Because of this Recompete award, more Allentown residents will get a fair shot at overcoming the barriers to getting and keeping good-paying jobs in growing industries like manufacturing and health care. Barriers like access to child care, reliable transportation, education or skills training have kept people out of the workforce for too long, but this funding will make progress to change that. This is a game-changer for Allentown, and I’m proud to have been here to celebrate.”

“Together, with our partners and the support of our federal representatives, we are embarking on a journey to reshape Allentown’s economic landscape,” said Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk. “We are building a city that not only grows but thrives, with a workforce that reflects the strength, diversity, and resilience of our community.”

“A career in the union trades can be a great way to enter the middle class, but some people need assistance to get started,” said Paul Anthony, IBEW Local 375 Business Manager. “The Recompete program is designed to help residents in underserved communities begin this path through a union apprenticeship.”

Yesterday, the Department of Commerce announced that the City of Allentown is receiving a $500,000 strategy development grant through the Recompete Pilot Program to help identify and create a plan for tackling local barriers to employment – including access to child care, transportation, and job training. The City also received approval of their Recompete Plan, which will allow Allentown to compete for $20 million to $50 million in implementation funding in Phase II of the Recompete Program. This plan lays out a comprehensive strategy to connect residents to good-paying jobs and overcome barriers to entry to the workforce through collaborating with labor unions and employers to expand apprenticeships, skills training, and re-entry programs, investing in micro-transit and childcare services, and funding site development.

Earlier this year, Congresswoman Wild advocated for Allentown to receive this funding in a letter to Alejandra Castillo, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. Additionally, Senator Casey advocated for the Allentown to receive this funding in a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Both Congresswoman Wild and Senator Casey voted to pass the CHIPS and Science Act last year, which established the Recompete Pilot Program.

About the Recompete Pilot Program:

The Recompete Pilot Program aims to make targeted investments in communities struggling with high unemployment among people ages 25 to 54 – known as distressed communities – by providing them with resources to address to barriers to employment most prevalent in their area.

Over 500 applications from cities around the nation were submitted for Recompete funding. Of these 500, Allentown was selected as one of 22 applicants to receive Phase I funding through a $500,000 strategy development grant and be considered for between $20 and $50 million in funding during Phase II.

More information about the City of Allentown’s Recompete Plan can be found here and here.

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Katie Smith