Community Action Development Bethlehem and its partners announced recently that it has received approval of its new Neighborhood Partnership Program, Southside’s Tomorrow. The project will invest $325,000 annually over the next six years through initiatives that focus on youth development, community engagement, public spaces, housing advocacy and urban agriculture in south Bethlehem.

Southside’s Tomorrow is the successor to the Southside Vision 2020 project and is a partnership between the City of Bethlehem and Community Action Development Bethlehem, a subsidiary of nonprofit Community Action Lehigh Valley.

“As south Bethlehem continues to flourish, it is necessary to incorporate the vibrant voices of the community in the decisions being made about its collective vision,” said Yadira Colon-Lopez, director of Community Action Development Bethlehem. “Empowering the community with strategic and creative placemaking that impacts future development is key to ensuring a vibrant, equitable place to live for all residents.”

Through a public input process, Southside’s Tomorrow has identified three areas on which to focus its resources over the next six years:

• Housing affordability and quality

• Public and green spaces

• Communication and connectivity

The core of the six-year plan is commitments of $1.9 million from companies that do business in the Lehigh Valley, supported by 80 percent tax credits by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as part of its Neighborhood Partnership Program.

Corporate investors and the annual commitments they made include:

• Univest Bank and Trust Co, $100,000

• Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley, $75,000

• Peoples Security Bank & Trust, $50,000

• PPL Electric Utilities, $50,000

• Provident Bank, $50,000

“We are excited to be partnering on this Neighborhood Partnership Project to continue the revitalization of southside Bethlehem and improve the quality of life for those living and working there,” said Michael Keim, president of Univest Bank and Trust Co. “Univest is proud to serve the Lehigh Valley and giving back to the communities we serve has been at the heart of how Univest operates for 145 years. By providing financial support and volunteering time for financial education and mentoring, we are honored to contribute to this important initiative. We look forward to the positive impact that will be made through this focused community development.”

Southside’s Tomorrow will develop opportunities to expand and support new and existing community gardens, establish a youth committee that will create programming, continue supporting existing programs such as the Greenway Farmers Market and Southside Ambassadors, and more. Community Action Development Bethlehem is committed to integrating the needs and wants of current residents into long-term, sustainable solutions that both modernize and preserve the integrity of the Southside community.

Former Mayor Bob Donchez noted the city is very encouraged that a new initiative will continue on the Southside for at least the next six years.

Contributed article