If something works and pays you back more than you’re putting into it, wouldn’t you want more of it?

Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood Assistance Program – NAP – is one such program. It improves the outlook of communities, families, businesses and the Commonwealth. Data shows that $500,000 in NAP support generates $900,000 in economic activity and $32,000 in new state tax revenue that would otherwise go unrealized.

Locally, McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation benefits from the Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) segment of NAP. A portion of our operating budget is funded through these state tax credits. Long-term partnerships with the likes of Key Bank, Pitt Ohio Trucking, UPMC Health Plan, TriState Capital and Dollar Bank have allowed us to expand our reach over the past six years. We’ve introduced annual facade rework projects, purchased key downtown properties with aims at future development and developed detailed downtown and municipal comprehensive planning.

Our partnerships through the NAP program also helped to lead to the development of three partnerships focusing on our community’s expressed needs: Youth Development, Mental Health and Nutrition.

This pioneering public-private partnership between the Commonwealth, communities and private investors creates positive, sustainable change in distressed communities like ours. It’s also been stuck at $18 million since its statewide inception in 1967, and applications far exceed available funds.

Bipartisan, bi-chamber support is growing to expand it, but we need your help.

Senators and Representatives have issued cosponsor memos to double NAP to $36 million. This would unlock even more resources that are vital funds to organizations, housing, and food security, and enable community organizations to build sound partnerships with for-profit tax credit investors. Will you help us get more cosponsors and send a clear message to Harrisburg?

Please contact your Senator and Representative today and ask them to support the expansion and modernization of the Neighborhood Assistance Act. Please click on the links below for letters and contact information:

NAP generates a high interest among participants due to its effectiveness at creating sustainable growth and fostering public-private partnerships. These revitalization efforts are smart and thoughtful investments and reduce the Commonwealth’s costs for human services, special education, and corrections.  We hope that you agree and share your support with Harrisburg.