CED Committee Meeting: Pass-Through Grants and Allentown Development Updates on 2026-03-18
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CED Committee Meeting: Pass-Through Grants and Allentown Development Updates on 2026-03-18
On 2026-03-18 at 10:45 AM, the City of Allentown's Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee met to vote on five pass-through grants to local organizations, receive updates on city development initiatives, and discuss ongoing housing and workforce challenges. All committee members were present. The meeting was efficient, with each grant moving forward favorably to full council.
Consent Calendar
- Bill 13: Supplemental appropriation of $250,000 from the PADCED local share account grant to support the resurrected community development corporation (construction project). Approved unanimously.
- Bill 14: Supplemental appropriation of $400,000 from the PADCED local share account grant to support the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley (construction project). Approved unanimously.
- Bill 15: Supplemental appropriation of $296,878 from the PADCED local share account grant to support the Museum of Indian Culture (construction project). Approved unanimously.
- Bill 16: Supplemental appropriation of $1,000,000 from the state Office of the Budget Redevelopment Assistant Capital Program to support the Baum School of Art (construction project). Approved unanimously.
- Bill 17: Supplemental appropriation of $75,000 from the PADCED local share account grant to support the Allentown Art Museum (construction project). Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mary Tomlinson (373 West Liberty Street): A social worker, expressed gratitude for the city's investments and inquired about the contracting partners for the Allentown Works program, specifically how to refer individuals for employment. The administration provided a detailed list of partners and noted that a formal referral process would be announced by the end of the next quarter.
Discussion Items
- DCED Updates: The administration reported on several ongoing initiatives:
- Positions posted within DCED due to retirements; interviews progressing well.
- CDBG applications scoring completed; awaiting award letter and allocation.
- Allentown Works contracts (except one with a legal typo) to be approved at the AEDC board meeting the next day, allowing partner work to begin.
- Planning department compiling data on development opportunities.
- A data center ordinance is with the planning commission for comments; a vacant and at-risk property ordinance is undergoing final legal revision before being brought to council.
- RFP for Toy Factory and 540 Hamilton: The administration clarified that an article misrepresented the process as bids (which implies cost-only selection) and the relationship with RACA (Redevelopment Authority of the City of Allentown). The city issued a generic request for proposals (RFP) to attract diverse community proposals. Proposals are due early April; walkthroughs were well-attended. A subset of the RACA board will evaluate proposals separately from cost, narrowing to the top three.
- Housing Rehabilitation Challenges: The administration outlined several obstacles:
- The loss of HADC (when Dave Evans retired) and CALV's limited bandwidth have reduced capacity for rehab work.
- A national housing expert is being consulted to provide recommendations with pricing.
- A $180,000 cost increase on the funeral home project due to BABA (Build America, Buy America) requirements expanding from 10% steel to 10% of all products used in federal projects, causing supply chain and cost issues.
- Developers are increasingly reluctant to work with federal funds due to these costs.
- Allentown Works Partners: Partners include L-TriC, the Workforce Board, labor unions, Century Promise, Community Bike Works, VIA, and others—covering daycare support (e.g., Resurrected Life), transportation, and workplace training. The administration committed to circulating enrollment information once the program launches.
- Downtown Ambassadors Program (DAA): A committee member requested an update on DAA's performance (e.g., ambassador foot patrols and entrepreneurship). The administration noted a new director, Lisa, and offered to have her present a report. The administration also mentioned that committees are forming under DAA.
Key Outcomes
- All five grants (Bills 13-17) were voted favorably to full council with unanimous support (voice vote, no count recorded). The meeting adjourned after final call.
- The administration will invite the new DAA director to provide a formal update to the committee.
- A formal referral process for Allentown Works will be released by mid-to-late next quarter.
Meeting Transcript
All right, we're good. We're good. Okay. Oh, yes. Okay. Oh. All right. Good evening, everyone. We're gonna go ahead and get this CED meeting uh started. Everyone on the committee is present. We've got a bunch of pass-through grants to vote on. Uh so with that said, uh Bill 13. Um Bill 13 amends the 2026 grant fund to provide for a supplemental appropriation of 250,000 dollars from the PADCED local share account grant. These funds are a pass-through grant that will support the resurrected community development corporation. All right, thank you. Any questions from the committee? From the Dais, Miss Skissler, anything? The only thing that I'm gonna start by saying is that all five of these are construction projects. Okay, great. Um, any questions from members of the public and all right, is there a motion to move forward? I'll make a motion move it forward to full council favorably. And second, I'll second. All right, all in favor. Aye. So this will move forward. I think to tonight, and then next is Bill 14. Bill 14 amends the 2026 grant fund to provide for a supplemental appropriation of 400,000 from the PADCED local share account grant. These funds are a pass-through grant that will support the Jewish community center of the Lehigh Valley. Thank you. Uh same deal. Any questions from anyone on the dais? And the administration, the public okay, is there a motion to move this forward? Motion moving forward. I'll second it. All right, all in favor. Aye. So this will move forward. Bill 15. Bill 15 amends the 2026 grant fund to provide for a supplemental appropriation of 296,878 dollars from the PADCED local share account grant. These funds are a pass-through grant that will support the Museum of Indian Culture. Okay, thank you. Any questions? Any questions from the public? Motion move forward. Um I'll make a motion move it forward favorably. Second. I'll second it. All right, all in favor. Aye. Aye.
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