LVCF Leading the Early Childhood Charge in Allentown’s Recompete Grant Success
The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) played a pivotal role in the City of Allentown’s successful bid to secure a $20 million federal grant aimed at revitalizing some of the city’s most economically distressed neighborhoods. This significant funding, part of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Recompete Pilot Program, represents a transformative opportunity for the city to address barriers to employment, including challenges in transportation and access to affordable childcare.
LVCF’s Central Role in Childcare Planning
A key component of Allentown’s Recompete Plan is improving access to quality childcare—a critical factor in enabling residents to enter and stay in the workforce. Through the leadership of Megan Briggs, Vice President of Community Investments, LVCF has been instrumental in this effort. Megan led a coalition of community partners and stakeholders in crafting the childcare section of the Recompete application. Their work focused on enhancing childcare services to support not only families but also those who work in the childcare sector, thereby fostering better job opportunities for Allentown’s residents and contributing to the overall economic growth of the Lehigh Valley.
The importance of this focus cannot be overstated. As Alejandra Y. Castillo, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, emphasized during the grant announcement, “We tend to forget how critically important the childcare component is” to employment. The inclusion of a robust childcare improvement plan in the application helped distinguish Allentown’s proposal from a competitive pool of 565 submissions, ultimately securing its place as one of only six communities nationwide to receive Recompete grant funding.
Collaborative Effort for Transformational Change
The Recompete grant is designed to help economically distressed communities by removing barriers to employment and creating pathways to economic opportunity. In Allentown, where the unemployment rate among young residents in poorer neighborhoods is a staggering 12.3%, this funding is poised to make a significant impact. The city’s poverty rate, which stands at 23.3%, is double the national average, with racial and ethnic disparities contributing to unequal access to opportunity. Only 38% of Allentown’s Latino population, for example, has “high access to opportunity,” compared with 78% of the city’s white population.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk highlighted these challenges at the press conference held on August 5, 2024, to announce the $20 million-dollar Recompete grant, stating, “While the Lehigh Valley has seen tremendous economic growth, not all residents of Allentown have felt the benefit of that growth equally. Disparities in job access, skills alignment, and essential services like transportation and childcare have left some behind.” The Recompete grant is seen as a crucial tool for addressing these disparities and ensuring more equitable economic growth in the city. At the “Presser,” Mayor Tuerk was spoke to the more than 100 people assembled for the annoucement. Congresswoman Susan Wild and Senator Bob Casey, Pennsylvania’s Lt. Governor Austin Davis and Alejandra Y. Castillo, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development (pictured on page one) all provided there persectives.
Involvement Beyond the Recompete
LVCF’s involvement extends beyond the Recompete Plan. The Foundation has also been invited to serve as the backbone convenor of the Early Childhood Education Action Committee, a coalition working toward systemic change in the early childhood sector across the Lehigh Valley. As a backbone organization, LVCF is collaborating with nonprofits, policymakers, advocates, and the community to plan actions that will drive significant improvements in early childhood education and care.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter for Allentown
The $20 million in Recompete funding is just the beginning. As Alejandra Castillo noted, these federal dollars are “seed dollars” intended to attract further investment from the private sector and philanthropic organizations. The successful implementation of Allentown’s Recompete plan is expected to be transformational, with city projections indicating that over 650 people could be employed by 2030, significantly narrowing the local employment gap.
Allentown’s selection for this grant underscores the city’s commitment to creating a more inclusive economy where all residents can thrive. Through its leadership in the Recompete Plan and broader community initiatives, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation is helping to pave the way for a brighter future for Allentown, where economic opportunity is accessible to all.
As the city and its partners move forward, the collaboration between LVCF, local organizations, and government agencies will be key to ensuring that the goals of the Recompete Plan are realized. Together, we are working to change the narrative for Allentown’s most vulnerable communities, demonstrating the power of partnership and shared vision in driving lasting change.
Learn More About the Recompete Grant
Allentown Recompete Grant One-pager Overview PDF
The Morning Call: Allentown gets $20 million federal grant to fight high unemployment
LehighValleyNews.com: Officials hail ‘transformational’ $20M grant to boost employment