Blueprint Community

Blueprint Communities is a revitalization and leadership initiative created by FHLBank Pittsburgh and its partners to spark the creation of sustainable communities.

The Allegheny-Clarion River Valley program serves the communities of Emlenton, Foxburg and Parker at the southern gateway of the Oil Region National Heritage Area. The region boasts terrific opportunities for recreation on land and water, including hiking, biking, kayaking, hunting and fishing. In addition, vibrant arts and heritage add to the high quality of life in the ACRVR, which is easily accessible from I-80 and within two hours of Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Erie.

The program is led by Blueprint Community Coordinator Selina Pedi under the auspices of the Oil Region Alliance.

ACRVR goals are to:

• Increase recreational tourism offerings
• Develop entrepreneurial opportunities
• Emphasize the region’s reputation as a destination for raising a family
• Promote arts, culture and heritage

Further details can be found on the ACRVR website.

Overall goals of the Blueprint Communities program, according to managing entity the PA Downtown Center, are:

• Fostering strong local leadership, collaboration and development capacity.
• Creating a clear vision for the community and a comprehensive implementation strategy
• Coordinating investments in targeted communities by public and private funders

Blueprint Community training seeks to teach skills related to:

• Identifying & developing community resources
• Growing local leadership
• Team building & cohesiveness
• Asset mapping
• Encouraging civic engagement
• Understanding community development models
• Visioning & planning
• Marketing & communication
• Connectivity
• Promoting best practices

Completion of the program will yield the following results:

• Community vision
• Draft community plan based on that vision
• Clear action strategy (including a funding strategy)
• Process to measure outcomes
• List of next steps/timeline to move the process forward