NeighborWorks details Beautiful Blocks program, $1,000 matching grants and March 30 application deadline

NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania told the Scranton council that its Beautiful Blocks program continues to expand citywide, offering matching grants of up to $1,000 for front-of-house exterior improvements and a targeted sidewalk-and-curb replacement grant.

"Beautiful Blocks operates on a city-wide basis in the city of Scranton," said Gerard Hipman, community development specialist at NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania. The program, active in Scranton since 2019, requires neighborhood groups of at least five properties to apply together and typically matches resident spending dollar-for-dollar to reach the full $1,000 grant.

The program manager told the council the expanded sidewalk grant remains eligible for curb work when applicants seek replacement or repair, a change meant to prioritize safety and to catalyze further improvements. Hipman said many homeowners tackle sidewalk or curb work first and then add additional facade or landscaping projects in later years.

Applications are competitive and are scored by a committee that has included a city representative, a NeighborWorks staff member, a local realtor and past program participants. "We look for coordination among neighbors and projects that will have a visible, safety or physical improvement impact," Hipman said, describing the rubric the selection committee uses.

Hipman displayed before-and-after examples the presentation said highlight sidewalk replacements, porch and step repairs, painting and modest landscaping. He described those projects as leveraging resident investment: the program reimburses the grant portion but participating homeowners frequently invest additional funds beyond the matching requirement.

Council members pressed on program geography and turnover. Hipman said the program historically saw many applications from the Hill, West Scranton and Green Ridge neighborhoods, but the last two cycles showed increased participation in North Scranton, Pinebrook and the South Side. He estimated roughly half of applicant groups each year are returning participants and half are new or reconfigured groups.

The presenter asked interested groups to note the application deadline for the first cycle is March 30 and to contact NeighborWorks for coaching and technical assistance. Hipman said NeighborWorks keeps a running list of late inquiries to engage potential applicants for the following cycle.

The presentation credited the city’s ongoing financial support with helping NeighborWorks leverage additional state and philanthropic partners to expand the program’s reach. Hipman said that visible city funding improves the agency’s ability to raise complementary dollars from institutions and donors.

The presentation closed with an offer to remain after the caucus for follow-up questions; the council recessed for a short break at 6:27 p.m.