Community Success Stories

FHLBank Pittsburgh Supports Revitalization in 10 Pennsylvania Communities

“It’s not our finish, it’s our start. And it’s going to get us where we need to be,” said Christi Emel, Financial Center Manager at Fulton Bank, and resident of Sunbury, one of the 10 Pennsylvania towns that are 2024 participants in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s (FHLBank) Blueprint Communities^® initiative.

On April 29, 2024, FHLBank hosted a ceremony in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to celebrate 10 communities joining this newest cohort of the program. The selected communities include Allentown, Berwick, Carbondale, Easton (South Side), Harrisburg (Allison Hill), Panther Valley School District (Coaldale Lansford, Nesquehoning, and Summit Hill), Philadelphia (Juniata Neighborhood), Reading (9th Street Corridor), Sunbury (Downtown) and White Haven. This is FHLBank’s ninth Blueprint Communities cohort, joining 64 prior community participants.

“Everyone in Sunbury is wanting change,” Emel continues. “Everyone is wanting to see a thriving downtown. Everyone is wanting to see the city, nonprofits and organizations work together, but no one has a plan or pathway to do that. Blueprint Communities is going to give us that plan.”

The Blueprint Communities initiative is unique to FHLBank and focuses on revitalizing communities and neighborhoods by building strong local leadership, collaboration and development capacity, developing sound plans, and encouraging investments by public and private funders.

Each community will connect with partners and resources to help them succeed. Some of the goals that communities have identified include creating affordable housing, developing new businesses to support community needs, enhancing infrastructure and growing tourism opportunities.

“Blueprint Communities could be the change that a neighborhood or community needs to see,” says Christine Verdier, a member of FHLBank’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council. “It’s those initiatives that will be developed by having a plan, taking the resources that are given and putting that plan into action. We are pleased that there are communities that took on the challenge to make their communities better.”

“Blueprint Communities” is a registered service mark of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.

FHLBank Volunteers Join Hands with Local Community for a Green Cause

To celebrate 2024 Earth Day and Arbor Day, employees from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) volunteered in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Tree Pittsburgh, Facility Operations and Resource Planning and the City of Pittsburgh, to plant 115 trees. This effort was part of a larger project aimed at reforesting a site affected by city utility construction, with 1,200 trees planted over four phases.

As part of FHLBank’s sustained environmental volunteerism, employees contributed to the beautification and restoration of Riverview Park, and engaged in team building during this local project.

“Environmental volunteerism in local parks not only reinforces our commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) imperatives, but also strengthens our community bonds,” says Robin Noack, Senior ESG Strategy and Governance Manager at FHLBank. “We look forward to revisiting these saplings as they become an urban forest and continuing our environmental initiatives alongside our regional partners.”

Regional partners were essential to this project. "Riverview Park is a beautiful and hidden gem of the Northside. Despite its recent recognition as an arboretum, it still needs so much love and support to ensure that its tree canopy will continue to grow strong roots," said Jaime Filipek of the Friends of Riverview Park. "That's why volunteer tree plantings are so vital to the park's growth and future success. The energy that tree plantings bring to the park creates positive change for years to come and we are so grateful for that lasting impact." 

This component of FHLBank’s ESG work follows a Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy volunteer event at Kennard Park, where employees participated in an environmental clean-up in a neighborhood recovering from economic disinvestment.

Catherine Quereshi, President and CEO, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, reflected on both events and collaboration, “Partners like FHLBank are instrumental toward the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s efforts to invest in cleaner and greener parks for all and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders and the stewards of tomorrow. Through hands-on volunteerism and financial contributions, FHLBank embodies what it means to be a corporate partner committed to a more sustainable future for our parks and our planet.”

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Review FHLBank’s 2023 Impact Report to learn more about our environmental, social and governance approach: https://www.fhlb-pgh.com/files/resources/24-57.pdf.

Customers Bank Uses AHP to Fund 21 New Units in Philadelphia's Diamond Park Neighborhood

In the Diamond Park neighborhood of Philadelphia, Temple University’s student housing needs have led to dramatic changes. This development boom has had a mixed impact on the neighborhood’s existing residents. In partnership with Customers Bank, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia (HFHP) has made investments to aid the community’s affordable housing needs. 

Diamond Park Phase III is the third part of a project supported by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s (FHLBank) Affordable Housing Program (AHP). The funding supported the revitalization of three blocks in the neighborhood by creating new, affordable housing. Before this project, the properties sat vacant, which negatively impacted the surrounding neighborhood. Diamond Park Phase III was completed in the summer of 2023 with 21 new, affordable, energy-efficient units, all purchased by families partnered with HFHP. 

Each home was designed with three bedrooms, one-and-a-half bathrooms, and a yard, and was built using HFHP’s standard sustainable and efficient construction methods. The homes were purchased by low-income families in HFHP’s rigorous Homeownership Program, which includes 125 hours of sweat equity in lieu of a financial down payment. Sweat equity also earns participants a 0% interest, 30-year mortgage, which supports affordability. Additionally, this approach helps the prospective buyers become neighbors, even before they are homeowners.

“Being a homeowner was important to me because I wanted to always provide stability for my family. I tried to buy a home twice. With the loan they offered me, I was like, ‘Where am I going to buy a house with this amount of money?’ I kept researching and then I found Habitat,” says a resident of Diamond Park. “This was something that we accomplished as a family. I am grateful for this experience. Without Habitat, I probably wouldn’t be a homeowner today.”

Customers Bank worked with HFHP to apply for AHP funds from FHLBank. “Customers Bank is committed to supporting affordable housing to build and stabilize communities,” said President and CEO Sam Sidhu. “Far too often, our essential workers in manual labor and service industries cannot afford to live in the cities in which they work. Projects like Diamond Park offer hope and opportunity for these families.”

HFHP has been working in and around this section of North Philadelphia for nearly 39 years and has built and rehabilitated 114 homes in the community. Through their Homeownership Program, they have fostered strength, stability and self-reliance across 265 Philadelphia families, as well as more than 930 homes for existing homeowners in Lower North Philadelphia through their Home Repair Program.

The 21 units were completed, sold and occupied as of August 2023. With its completion, Diamond Park Phase III has increased the neighborhood housing supply and become a positive development for the community.

“Affordable housing is deeply intertwined with the American Dream,” noted Sidhu. “Owning a home signifies stability, security, upward mobility and ‘roots’ in the community. A home is more than a shelter; it’s a pathway to a better future.”

About Customers Bank

Customers Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:CUBI) is one of the nation’s top-performing banking companies with nearly $22 billion in assets making it one of the 80 largest bank holding companies in the U.S. Customers Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary — serves commercial and consumer clients with a full suite of technology-enabled tailored product experiences delivered by best-in-class customer service distinguished by a Single Point of Contact approach. In addition to traditional lines such as C&I lending, commercial real estate lending and multifamily lending, Customers Bank also provides a number of national corporate banking services to specialized lending clients. Major accolades include:

• No. 5 on American Banker 2023 list of top-performing banks with $10B to $50B in assets;
• No. 29 out of the 100 largest publicly traded banks in 2024 Forbes Best Banks list; and
• No. 52 on Investor’s Business Daily 100 Best Stocks for 2023.

A member of the Federal Reserve System with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Customers Bank is an equal opportunity lender. Learn more: www.customersbank.com.

About FHLBank Pittsburgh

FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com.

 

 

 

 

Diverse Suppliers Central to Employee Education, Training and Resource Groups

Ongoing employee education is key to our high-performance Bank. At the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank), our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) through engagement with subject matter experts has been essential to fostering a more inclusive workplace culture that mitigates biases and drives organizational success.

We prioritize developing and maintaining successful relationships with certified minority- and women-owned firms. A diverse pool of qualified vendors provides more options when procuring goods and services and promotes innovation and creativity.

“FHLBank puts our Supplier Diversity Good Faith Efforts approach into action with every new vendor relationship,” said Joel Acie, Deputy Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. “We are proud to partner with diverse businesses to deliver important trainings and insights to expand the knowledge and skills of our employees.”

Our DEI educational series helps employees understand the societal and institutional biases that disadvantaged populations may experience, while also encouraging self-awareness of the tremendous impact that individual language and actions have on shaping workplace culture.

Over the past four years, our DEI education has focused on three strategic benefits:

1. Supporting Employee Education

2. Upholding Workplace Sensitivity

3. Developing Inclusive Thinking and Actions

FHLBank utilizes diverse suppliers to provide DEI training aligned with our employee resource groups (ERGs): African American, Diverse Horizons (reading-focused), Multi-Ethnic, Pride and Women groups.

A few examples are below from our many diverse vendors who supported employee training and education in the past year.

Through the African American ERG, FHLBank was able to conduct our annual Juneteenth Day of Learning and Reflection that consisted of an educational session on the history of Juneteenth presented by Dr. Kimberly Ellis, Activist, Keynote Speaker and Scholar of American and Africana Studies. The event continued with discussions on FHLBank’s influential position in the community through our community product, BOBIE, and a conversation with our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award recipient.

During Pride Month, the Pride ERG welcomed Sarah Rosso to speak to FHLBank employees about their position of Executive Director at the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation. The Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation was established in 2017 to improve the health of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities in Western Pennsylvania and has decades of experience enacting effective change for government, nonprofit and corporate entities to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for organizations and the people that they serve.

In September, the Women’s ERG hosted Sandy Campbell in a Bankwide session about challenging perceptions around stress. Campbell instructed the attendees about skills to confront challenges with greater capacity, stamina and well-being.

Following a Bankwide session on allyship, Karen Catlin, a prominent national DEI trainer said, “It was an honor to deliver my keynote, ‘Better Allies: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive Workplaces’ for FHLBank Pittsburgh. The response was outstanding. I’m delighted to have played even a small role in helping the staff be better allies.”

“Supplier diversity promotes innovation by encouraging competitive pricing, enhancing service quality and providing new solutions; inclusive practices and equitable access to opportunity also foster a stronger, more resilient economy,” said Katey Malesic, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. “The active participation of all our employees in DEI trainings and supplier diversity makes FHLBank and our community a better place to work and thrive.”

About FHLBank Pittsburgh

FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com.

FHLBank Furthers Environmental Commitment Through Employee Impact

As part of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s (FHLBank) continued focus on the environment and sustainability, several employees gathered in Pittsburgh’s Hill District at Kennard Park to participate in our first park clean-up with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Employees worked together to collect debris, place mulch around trees, plant bulbs and remove invasive vines.

Kennard Park is located in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District, which has experienced uneven economic development over the past 50 years. For the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, ongoing investments and service activities at Kennard Park help promote volunteerism, conservation and community engagement in our region’s green spaces. 

“Having green spaces in the city are important for several reasons,” said Hersh Merenstein of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “It gives people a ‘third space’ to meet, enjoy the outdoors and build community. Having organizations like FHLBank participate in environmental and conservation activities furthers our collective sense of community and helps improve our parks.”

“Through volunteer activities, supporting employee and Bankwide giving and supporting healthy green spaces in our community, FHLBank is taking deliberate steps to incorporate sustainability into our business,” said Robin Noack, Senior ESG Strategy and Governance Manager at FHLBank. “We are proud to be located in Pittsburgh and feel honored to be in a position where we can give back.”

It is our hope that this is one of many service projects that beautify our district, support our neighbors, and further our commitment to the environment.

About FHLBank Pittsburgh

FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com.

Employee Resource Groups Showcase FHLBank Pittsburgh's Values

At the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank), we are proud to have five Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that provide our colleagues with support and promote collaboration. Our African American, Diverse Horizons, Multi-Ethnic, Pride and Women ERGs have enabled us to further our diversity, equity and inclusion journey, and all employees are able to join. In 2023, each group had incredible accomplishments and contributed to our organization in meaningful ways.

African American ERG (AAERG) is focused on organizational matters impacting African Americans within the workplace. The group is dedicated to supporting the recruitment, retention and engagement of African Americans while assisting in creating an inclusive environment, which enhances the work environment for all. During Black History Month, AAERG put together employee features to highlight and celebrate our influential Black leaders working at FHLBank, and was integral to planning our third annual Juneteenth Day of Learning.

Diverse Horizons ERG (DHERG) is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion through reading and discussing current and classic literary works related to a variety of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities and identities. The group’s focus is on building relationships among employees and increasing appreciation and understanding of diverse backgrounds and cultural experiences. One of the books DHERG read in 2023 was “Fighting Back,” an autobiography by Rocky Bleier, veteran and former Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back. At the end of the year, DHERG hosted Bleier at the office to hear his story directly, and also have photo opportunities with him, his book and his four Super Bowl rings.

Our Multi-Ethnic ERG (MERG) is dedicated to enhancing awareness of different ethnicities through events and community service opportunities that foster networking, professional development, mentoring and leadership opportunities for all. In June 2023, MERG hosted Maria Montaño to speak with FHLBank employees about her journey of becoming the first openly trans woman to serve as Pittsburgh's Press Secretary. During this time, Maria told stories about her experiences and her career accomplishments, including developing innovative social media campaigns, executing press events across Pennsylvania and developing a new communications staff.

The Pride ERG works to promote diversity, equity and inclusion by creating a welcoming and supportive work environment for members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. The group’s focus is on building relationships among employees and creating an open forum to share common interests/concerns. This results in support for one another, and highlights ways our organization can learn from these conversations. In June 2023, FHLBank employees marched in the Pittsburgh Pride Parade to celebrate with our community and employees.

Our Women’s ERG (WERG) is dedicated to promoting women leadership and excellence. The group’s focus is on building relationships among employees, aiding in professional development and providing networking opportunities for its members. In 2023, WERG was able to bring in several different speakers to lead sessions on empowering women in the workplace. Members of WERG were also able to sponsor and support in-district events like Pittsburgh-based, Strong Women Strong Girls’ annual Strong Awards Celebration.

The ERGs further our diversity, equity and inclusion journey and make FHLBank a stronger work environment and partner to our community. While our ERGs center around events and moments, they also reinforce company values and create opportunities for all our employees to connect in meaningful ways.

PSECU Uses First Front Door to Support Their First-time Homebuyers

Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) launched its First-Time Homebuyer Program designed to provide funding to first-time homebuyers without a 20% down payment. In combination with offering access to First Front Door (FFD), a down payment and closing costs assistance program offered by the Federal Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank), PSECU has been able to make homeownership a reality for more people and households.

The PSECU program allows for 100% financing to creditworthy borrowers with as little as 1% held in borrower reserves. The PSECU program eliminates the requirement for private mortgage insurance, in addition to PSECU’s standard practice of not charging fees for the appraisal, credit report, and flood zone determination. To participate in this program, prospective borrowers are linked to required homebuyer education courses to help them understand the process and responsibility of homeownership.

As one of the Commonwealth’s largest credit unions, with a focus on serving the financial needs of its 590,000 members, reaching Pennsylvania’s first-time homebuyers is central to its business. In 2023, PSECU’s First-Time Homebuyer Program received 1,052 mortgage applications. With the FHLBank FFD program, PSECU has been able to help even more applicants. Access to the FFD grant program in 2023 allowed PSECU to go a step further and provide borrowers with up to a maximum of an additional $5,000 to put toward their closing costs.

“Having worked with the First Front Door grant program previously, I knew that it would be a great addition to our First-Time Homebuyer Program,” said Todd Newpher, Mortgage Originator Manager, PSECU. “In 2023, and for the first time in PSECU’s history, we started offering FFD, which aligns well with our program.”

PSECU recognizes the tremendous impact that owning a home can have on financial stability and a family’s future. The credit union philosophy of “people helping people” drives them to offer innovative programs that create opportunities and growth for their members – enabling them to own their future.

“With PSECU’s already low closing costs, some borrowers were able to get into their new home with little to no out-of-pocket money,” said Newpher. “What a fantastic opportunity to help first-time homebuyers achieve the dream of homeownership!”

In 2024, PSECU is hoping to increase the number of first-time homebuyers served, and FFD is part of that strategy. “We are always looking for ways to improve the lives of those our members serve,” said Alexa Mascara, FHLBank’s product manager for FFD. “This community product is made possible through our members and furthers their great work in our region.”

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About PSECU

Opened in 1934, PSECU was founded by 22 ordinary people who pooled $90 and made an extraordinary commitment to each other: To create a financial institution where collective resources benefit all members. Today, PSECU continues that legacy as Pennsylvania’s digital-first credit union, with $8 billion in assets, more than 590,000 members, and a convenient anytime, anywhere banking model. For more information about PSECU, visit psecu.com. PSECU has been recognized as a Best-In-State Credit Union by Forbes, one of America’s Best Banks by Newsweek, and a Best Credit Union by GOBanking Rates. View its Year In Review to learn how PSECU contributes to the greater good.

About FHLBank Pittsburgh

FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com.

Home4Good Funds Housing Services Work in Greater Pittsburgh

As the cost of living in the Greater Pittsburgh area continues to rise, those who are marginalized and face tough financial situations are most at-risk. Life events, such as injury, abuse and job loss, can impact people seeking help. When people are facing these challenges, they often won’t ask for assistance until they are already late on rent or housing payments or facing eviction.

Fortunately for those in need, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Council of Pittsburgh (SVdP) is able to step in to help their clients facing housing insecurity – services include support for rent, utilities, transportation, food and other necessities.

To expand their reach and impact, SVdP received a $75,000 Home4Good award, which is jointly offered by FHLBank Pittsburgh (FHLBank) and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. This work includes partnerships with local continuums of care and service organizations serving housing insecure populations.

“Home4Good allowed us to sustain the Direct Assistance Fund and capacity building training resources for our Conferences,” said Ricardo Luckow, Executive Director of SVdP. “Our goal for this fund is to address emergency needs, like housing and food insecurity, and to provide a path to sustainable solutions for our neighbors in need.”

This program, supported by Home4Good, channels dollars to local service organizations that know how to help. The grant funds supported training for Conferences to identify poverty and create a resource directory to connect individuals in need of services. Conferences are organized groups of individuals who provide direct assistance, as well as social and emotional support, to their neighbors in need.

SVdP supports a consortium of more than 60 Conferences in the Greater Pittsburgh region and 31 in Allegheny County. Typically, Conferences are organized through Catholic parishes, but can be formed around any group.

When a client contacts SVdP, they are connected with their local Conference who then assesses their situation through an initial conversation, followed by a home visit. Home visits are a uniquely volunteer-based element of SVdP, which often uncovers additional unmet needs that clients didn’t know could be addressed. Volunteers go into the homes of those requesting help and spend time to learn about their needs to find long-term solutions. SVdP not only provides financial means, but also community connections to help these individuals. The relationships built through the person-to-person service serve as natural mechanisms for follow-up as clients move along their path to achieving self-sufficiency, dignity and hope.

Multiple, current FHLBank members were involved with the SVdP project including Atlantic Community Bankers Bank; First National Bank of Pennsylvania; Mars Bank; NY Life Ins & Annuity Co.; Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company; QBE Insurance Corporation; S&T Bank; SSB Bank; Washington Financial Bank; and West View Savings Bank.

“Navigating the needs of those who are housing insecure in our region requires business and community partners,” said Alexa Mascara, FHLBank’s Home4Good product manager. “We are thankful that so many organizations stepped forward to support SVdP’s Direct Assistance Fund, which will help hundreds of people on the road to economic recovery.”

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About the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council of Pittsburgh

Founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam, a French college student, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul serves local individuals in need on a person-to-person level. The Society is operated primarily by volunteers, organized in regional Councils around the world. The Council of Pittsburgh was formed in 1852 and covers six counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania – Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington.

About FHLBank Pittsburgh

FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com.

1,000th BOB Loan Supports Woman-owned Fresh Produce Small Business

The Pittsburgh Juice Company was first opened in February 2014 in a historic art deco building overlooking Doughboy Square in Lower Lawrenceville. With a successful first location, company owner and founder, Naomi Hoppel was looking for a way to continue the growth of her business.

Hoppel faced challenges common to many small businesses including staffing, inventory management and limited access to capital. Despite these challenges, as well as ones that impact a fresh, organic fruit business uniquely, her vision for a fresh food and community destination kept Hoppel moving forward.

Next to the City of Pittsburgh, the former farmer's market in Aspinwall was purchased by Hoppel in April 2023 and would double as a cafe and new production area. The new location, Vibrant Sunshine Juicery Cafe, would be dedicated to “promoting happiness, wellness and sustainability through delicious grab-and-go foods and juices,” said Hoppel. “And the high traffic area allows convenient access to fresh food with plant-forward options.”

The Pittsburgh Juice Company acquired a business loan from Enterprise Bank, an FHLBank Pittsburgh (FHLBank) member. Additional financing was still needed to make this project possible; so, Enterprise Bank helped them access an FHLBank Banking On Business (BOB) loan. The BOB program, which offers secondary financing, can help to fill the financing gap between what a qualified small business needs and what a member financial institution is willing to lend.

In discussing the loan for this small business, Chuck Leyh, President and CEO of Enterprise Bank said, “Enterprise Bank is committed to helping small businesses serve communities and FHLBank Pittsburgh is an essential partner in that mission. We look forward to watching The Pittsburgh Juice Company thrive.”

The Pittsburgh Juice Company application became FHLBank’s 1,000th BOB loan to be funded and utilized the Banking On Business Inclusion and Equity fund (BOBIE). “BOBIE is a specific type of BOB loan which was established as a special purpose credit program that offers flexible terms that are favorable to minority- and women-owned small business borrowers,” said Julie Francis, product manager for the program. “Through the support of our members, FHLBank is able to provide additional funding to empower small businesses and create a positive economic impact on the areas our members serve.”

“This newest location marks an important step forward for The Pittsburgh Juice Company and Vibrant Sunshine,” said Hoppel. “The expanded retail space and production capacity will have a profound impact on our operations and enable us to grow to our full potential with expanded menu offerings and jobs created in our community. We are grateful for the support we have received throughout this expansion and for the opportunity to serve the Aspinwall community. We are so excited for the future!”

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About The Pittsburgh Juice Company

At The Pittsburgh Juice Company (affectionately known as “PJC”), the goal is to provide a product that makes you feel good and that you can feel good about. They believe in sustainability and the importance of wholesome, unprocessed, plant-based foods. In this woman-owned, family business, waste is minimal while ingredients are organic and seasonally local; all making for happy bodies and for a happy earth. Their new endeavor Vibrant Sunshine Juicery Cafe is a plant-forward cafe dedicated to promoting happiness, wellness and sustainability through nutritious grab-and-go foods and drinks.

About Enterprise Bank

Enterprise Bank opened its doors for business in October 1998. Since that day, our focus has been on providing the region with a bank that addresses the particular needs of entrepreneurs, startups, expanding businesses, and businesses in distress. It is our conviction that every business deserves the chance to start, grow and succeed. Enterprise Bank strives to bring an entrepreneurial spirit to the traditional commercial banking industry.

About FHLBank Pittsburgh

FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com.

S&T Bank Uses Affordable Housing Program (AHP) Grant to Support Sellersville Seniors

Sellersville is a small rural community with an industrial past. The town of 4,500 is an active, revitalized community, north of Philadelphia, with a healthy mix of shops and restaurants, small businesses and cultural amenities, along with an attractive residential area for those working in the surrounding urban centers. According to Dan McKee, President and CEO of Grace Inspired Ministries (GIM), Sellersville is also "an area with a growing cost of living and a very limited supply of high-quality, cost-effective rental housing for seniors and people with cognitive differences.”

As a regional bank operating for more than 120 years, S&T Bank knows the financial needs of the community well. Recognizing the lack of affordable senior living developments, S&T Bank, a member of FHLBank Pittsburgh (FHLBank), applied for an Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant. Together with GIM, which runs two life plan communities, S&T Bank partnered with affordable housing developer Leon N. Weiner & Associates (LNWA), and others, on this community project.

Finding the right mix of funding is critical for the success of any affordable housing project. LNWA Development Coordinator Beau Jones explains, “Affordable housing projects are not like market-rate projects where you can easily find equity. Rents are not the same as market-rate housing, so you have to find funding that will enable affordable rents.” For the $17.1 million Sellersville Senior Residences, that mix of funding included Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and a low-interest mortgage from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency; Bucks County community reinvestment capital, including financing from the county’s redevelopment authority; and a $405,000 AHP grant from FHLBank. In addition to its participation in obtaining the project’s AHP grant, S&T Bank provided a competitively priced construction loan.

In 2018, as ongoing preparations were being made, GIM acquired the property – an abandoned parking lot identified as a brownfield – and in partnership with LNWA, began the pre-construction work.

Sellersville Senior Residences is now an affordable and supportive housing community with 50 apartments: 42 one-bedroom units for residents aged 55 and older, and eight two-bedroom units for adults of all ages with behavioral health needs. All the apartments are Americans with Disabilities Act adaptable and built to the highest energy efficiency standards defined by the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home program. Rents are based on household income and affordable to households with incomes ranging from 20% to 60% of area median income.

Underscoring the area’s need for affordable senior housing, the apartments were fully leased after only 60 days of their initial availability in April 2022, and the waitlist currently extends past three years. “Projects like Sellersville Senior Residences not only serve as affordable homes for seniors, but also an innovative way to bring residents and stakeholders together in ways that foster community, trust and friendships,” said John Bendel, Senior Director of Community Investment, FHLBank.

Reflecting on the project’s success, Jones said, “There is always a need for gap financing in our industry, and it’s always difficult to find. FHLBank works hard to find ways to fill the gap and to make a project work. Both FHLBank and S&T Bank were great to work with and very supportive of this project.”

Transitional Housing Constructed for Homelessness Relief Services in Columbia County

Accessing homelessness relief services, particularly in rural areas, can be exceptionally challenging. First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. (First Columbia), along with regional stakeholder Community Strategies Group (CSG), recognized both the need and opportunity to serve those in their local community.

Through its Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) membership, First Columbia received a $650,000 grant through the FHLBank’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP). Funding for the project, comprising the combination of the AHP grant together with other funds CSG secured from federal, state and local sources, totaled $2.9 million – a solid foundation for converting the former West Street Church into transitional housing.

“Our members are the link between our cooperative’s funds and local housing needs,” said John Bendel, Senior Director of Community Investment, FHLBank. “First Columbia’s support of this project is a testament to their commitment to serving the needs in their backyard and demonstrates how the FHLBank’s AHP can help to address those needs.”

The former church building had been long owned by Bloomsburg resident Bill Brobst and, following his donation of the property, the resulting transitional housing was renamed Bill’s House, in his honor. “From the beginning, this project has aimed to help those experiencing homelessness in our community. We are already seeing the positive impact of this transitional housing and the associated programs. The positive impact will be felt by our community for years to come,” said Lance O. Diehl, President and Chief Executive Officer, First Columbia.

Bill’s House created nine rental units, with five units dedicated to those transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. Residents are recommended through a non-profit community organization that provides safe shelter to homeless families in Pennsylvania’s Columbia and Montour Counties.

In addition to housing, this collaboration also includes transformative services such as personal budgeting, financial literacy, job placement and job training. “These services create an atmosphere of bonding between Bill’s House residents and foster important skills necessary for a successful transition to live independently,” explained Josh Nespoli, CSG’s Deputy Director.

Bill’s House was completed in 2022. While some residents may need to stay for a few years, others have already moved out to permanent housing. That path to success allows for additional new residents to use Bill’s House as a step in their journey toward a better future.

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About Community Strategies Group (CSG)

CSG collaborates with public and private partners to enhance the quality of life in the communities that they serve. CSG strives to create strategic pathways to local solutions. CSG empowers individuals and organizations to achieve strong, healthy communities where all basic needs are met for every citizen. All people should have access to adequate housing, nutrition, recreation, the arts, and meaningful work.

About First Columbia Bank & Trust Co.

First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. is a full-service community commercial bank, serving a market area in Columbia, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour and Northumberland counties in Pennsylvania.

First Columbia engages in a full line of personal, business and municipal financial services and alternative investment products, including, under full trust powers, a complete line of corporate and personal fiduciary services. First Columbia addresses these markets through its main office in Bloomsburg and 11 community branch offices.

About FHLBank Pittsburgh

FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com.

UPDATE: New LGBTQ Housing and Care Resources Available Through AHP-funded Life Lines Project

As part of Fulton Bank’s community engagement efforts across the American Northeast, its employees worked with West End Neighborhood House and FHLBank Pittsburgh to support the development of housing for homeless and at-risk youth in Wilmington, Delaware.

The housing and supportive services are managed by West End’s Life Lines program, which serves current and former foster care youth, unaccompanied youth and those who identify as LGBTQ. Clients range in age from 16 to 23.

Young adults transitioning out of foster care face many challenges, including finding adequate housing and social services. Often without family support, a credit history, a job or even a secondary education and basic life skills, they are at far greater risk of homelessness than those coming from more stable home environments.

For those identifying as LGBTQ, the challenges are even greater. According to UNICEF’s Voices of Youth reporting, LGBTQ youth have a 120% higher risk of homelessness than their heterosexual peers.

Life Lines Program Director Stacy Shamburger explains. “Many at-risk youth lack the resilience, support, community and safety that most of us are fortunate to have. Our mission is to help them become their best selves, and our job is to provide them with safe, stable housing and the tools they need to feel supported along their journey.”

With the project’s completion in April 2022, West End Neighborhood House and the project’s developer, Cornerstone West Community Development Corporation, increased Life Lines’ housing capacity to accommodate 33 youth. Three of the 10 new beds are prioritized for LGBTQ youth through Life Lines’ Pride Program. 

“As a member of FHLBank Pittsburgh, we have ready access to capital and to products that help us better serve our communities,” said Wm. Smokey Glover, Executive Vice President, Director of Fair and Responsible Banking at Fulton Bank. “FHLBank’s Affordable Housing Program enabled us to work with local partners to fund this Life Lines project and help young people in our region who are aging out of foster care. Fulton Bank is proud to work with FHLBank and support projects like this as part of our mission to change lives for the better.” 

The housing was made possible through Fulton Bank’s support of a 2019 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) award of $750,000. The sponsorship was part of the Fulton Forward^TM initiative which offers programs, products and services in affordable housing, job training and workforce development, financial education and economic development.

“FHLBank Pittsburgh is one of only a few funders of affordable housing in our area,” according to Sarah Lester, Cornerstone West’s President and CEO. “The AHP grant was the largest single, non-governmental source of funding for our capital campaign, and we couldn’t have created this housing without it.”

The project produced a new three-bedroom home, a one-bedroom ADA-compliant home – Life Lines’ first fully accessible unit – and the rehabilitation of two three-bedroom townhomes. All homes have full kitchens, washers and dryers and are completely furnished. The ADA-compliant house is designed to accommodate a non-ambulatory, sight and/or hearing-impaired individual. 

Since its inception in 2001, Life Lines has served more than 1,000 of Delaware’s former foster care and low-income homeless youth.

“Fulton Bank has actively utilized the FHLBank’s credit and community products to enrich the communities they serve,” said Fred Banuelos, FHLBank Pittsburgh Community Investment Business Development Manager. “Their investment in this economically and ethnically diverse region builds upon their dedication to this community and invests in LGBTQ and accessibility resources for youth in Delaware.”

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Learn more about this project on the FHLBank Pittsburgh website under “AHP”: Life Lines Provides Housing for Homeless Youth in Delaware.

The Affordable Housing Program (AHP) helps FHLBank members participate in the development of affordable housing in the communities they serve. Learn more by visiting https://www.fhlb-pgh.com/AHP. 

FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com. 

 

West Virginia Blueprint Communities Build on Successful Partnerships

Many of us take great pride in our hometowns – even if the places where we grew up have lost some of their luster over time. Have you wondered what it would take to recapture the sense of place and vitality your community once had, to attract new families and to grow new businesses? Would it involve revitalization of the town center, or event sponsorships that bring people together, or something else altogether?

How would you create a new vision and plan, and how would you fund it? Where would you begin?

Six West Virginia communities – each sponsored by one or more FHLBank Pittsburgh member financial institutions – have spent the past two years answering those questions, while working to create and implement plans to revitalize their communities.

• Kingwood in Preston County, sponsored by Clear Mountain Bank and WesBanco
• Lewis County, sponsored by Citizens Bank of Weston
• Meadow River Valley in Greenbrier County, sponsored by Summit Community Bank
• The Monticello Neighborhood of Clarksburg, sponsored by MVB Bank
• New Martinsville in Wetzel County, sponsored by Union Bank
• Parsons in Tucker County, sponsored by Citizens Bank of West Virginia

They have done this work with the support of FHLBank Pittsburgh’s Blueprint Communities® – an initiative designed to revitalize older communities and neighborhoods by developing local leadership and growing their capacity to accomplish their own goals.

“Blueprint Communities was developed in response to our members’ concerns for under-invested communities in the areas they serve,” explains John Bendel, FHLBank Pittsburgh’s Senior Director of Community Investment. “Our members are looking for ways to help their communities find opportunities for growth.” Established in 2005, Blueprint Communities has since supported 64 communities across Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia in their revitalization efforts. This program focuses on creating and building momentum, often working in concert with prior and ongoing initiatives and investments made by public and private entities. The six communities in West Virginia comprise the latest Blueprint Communities cohort.

According to Laura Rye, MVB Bank Community Reinvestment Act Officer and MVB Community Development Corporation COO, “Blueprint Communities is pivotal and sustaining for participating communities – providing the resources they need to stay on track and achieve long-term success.”

For this 2019 cohort, FHLBank Pittsburgh engaged the West Virginia Community Development Hub (The Hub) to help provide training and coaching to the six communities’ multidisciplinary teams, each of whom includes a local government official, a real estate development professional and a representative from a community organization. FHLBank Pittsburgh members also participate on the teams, contributing their financial expertise, strong community relationships and access to capital.

Additionally, FHLBank Pittsburgh provides each participating community with funding, including ‘anchor’ or ‘capacity-building’ grants for administration and training, and mini-grants awarded over a two-year period to kickstart priority projects.

“Small, rural communities often struggle to fund and execute large complex projects solely through volunteer support,” says The Hub Community Development Programs Specialist Kaycie Stushek. “Blueprint Communities’ anchor grants allow them to pay for staff and other administrative expenses that are needed to sustain their efforts. They are a critical component of the program’s success and part of what distinguishes Blueprint Communities from other community development programs.”

The program also encourages investments by public and private funders, and partners with organizations that can lend vital expertise. This enables the Blueprint Communities initiative to work alongside federal and state resources that help bring community plans to life. Blueprint Communities is just one of several community investment products offered by FHLBank Pittsburgh.

West Virginia’s Blueprint Communities teams began their work in 2019 and received their official Blueprint Communities designations in August 2020. During that time, the teams worked with their communities to better understand local needs and priorities – and worked with each community in the cohort, sharing ideas and resources that helped them build and implement their five-year strategic plans. According to Janet Preston with the Parsons team, “Working with the other teams has been energizing and inspiring because we can see possibilities for our own communities in each other’s work.”

In addition, the teams have partnered with a multitude of organizations – colleges and universities, economic development agencies, foundations, local lenders and volunteer groups – that have donated time, expertise and funding to further the revitalization efforts. According to Stushek, “Collectively, the teams have leveraged their individual $37,250 in anchor grants and approximately $15,000 of mini-grants to generate more than $2.83 million in funding, including a $750,000 Affordable Housing Program grant from FHLBank Pittsburgh and a $1.8 million Abandoned Mine Lands Program grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior.” With the additional $15,000 mini-grants in 2022, the communities can expect that leverage will grow.

Their plans and projects, while unique to their locales, address common priorities in older rural communities. Several teams have focused on revitalizing their downtowns – demolishing or repurposing older commercial buildings and creating urban parks with landscaping, seating and artwork by local artists. With West Virginia’s growing reputation as a destination for outdoor recreation, others have been working to improve regional parks and trails. Two of the communities are working to renovate former school buildings for use as community centers and affordable housing.

Marketing and advertising campaigns promoting local businesses, new business opportunities and recreational tourism complement these revitalization efforts. Events – organized hikes and 5K runs, outdoor movie nights, concerts and Second Saturday celebrations – encourage community partnerships and participation.

There have been challenges along the way – the pandemic among them. But since achieving their Blueprint Communities status, the teams have made important strides in their initial goals and built on their plans to grow their communities in ways they could not have envisioned when they began their Blueprint Communities journey.

Partnerships have been fundamental to their success – and to the overall success of the Blueprint Communities initiative. According to Stushek, “The Hub's close working relationship with FHLBank Pittsburgh has been essential to the communities’ ability to achieve their goals. Even during the height of the pandemic, the strength of that partnership gave us the flexibility we needed to respond to the communities’ changing needs – while producing program deliverables and supporting communities to achieve remarkable results."   

FHLBank Pittsburgh’s Affordable Housing and Community Development Manager Rhiannon Haller concurs. “FHLBank members’ investments and partnership with The Hub, and the foundation laid by the Blueprint Communities initiative will hopefully sustain the success of these six communities for generations to come.”

 "Blueprint Communities" is a registered service mark of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.

West Virginia Bank Creates Housing for Seniors in Need

Monroe County lies in the heart of the picturesque Allegheny Mountains. It is rural – there are no stoplights or fast-food restaurants in the entire county – and it is economically disadvantaged. With few employers and limited access to broadband Internet, younger residents seek opportunity elsewhere, leaving behind a growing senior population.

In 2014, seniors represented approximately 16% of the county’s residents, its second largest age demographic, and most could not afford market-rate rents.

With the school district’s donation of the old Greenville School property in 2014, Monroe County Council on Aging (MCCOA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation providing meals, in-home services and transportation for seniors, had an opportunity to expand its services and create additional housing for the county’s senior citizens.

MCCOA embarked on a five-year project to develop the 11-acre property. The plan for the new Greenville Senior Living and Community Center included a senior center, a community and economic center and 16 units of affordable housing. Roughly estimated to cost $3.2 million, the project represented “a huge investment in this very rural, underserved area of West Virginia,” according to Bank of Monroe President and CEO Jim King, who would play an instrumental role in the project’s success.

MCCOA provided $100,000 in seed money and began by converting the old kindergarten annex into a senior center, while its all-volunteer project team began looking for funding to complete the full scope of the five-year project. As team member Skip Heath recalls, “We had a good mix of talent in construction, finance, cost analysis and project management, but little experience with a project of this scale.”

Undaunted, and after a few false starts, the team found the resources it needed to develop the senior housing. West Virginia Affordable Housing Trust Fund provided an initial $20,000 loan for predevelopment, and after discussion with FHLBank Pittsburgh staff, the team approached Bank of Monroe to request its sponsorship of an AHP grant for housing construction.

Established by Congress, AHP provides grants and subsidized loans for the acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing for households with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income. Housing developers partner with FHLBank members to apply for AHP funding, which is offered through an annual competitive funding round.

King explained, “Although we were not familiar with the AHP at the time, we met with the individuals involved and got comfortable with their plan and the program. Ultimately, we are here to support the communities we serve, and the AHP offered a great opportunity to help fund and collaborate on this important project for the Greenville community.”

In 2016, MCCOA received a $650,000 AHP grant from FHLBank and, in 2017, a $700,000 HOME Program loan from West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF) to construct two apartment buildings, each with four units of affordable housing for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Construction began in August 2017, and with the successful completion of the first eight units, MCCOA received a second AHP grant of $650,000 in 2018 and a third grant of $730,000 in 2019, enabling the construction of eight more units of housing. Each of the AHP grants supported a separate phase of the project.

In addition to sponsoring the AHP applications, Bank of Monroe provided lines of credit to facilitate the construction.

Completed in 2019, Greenville Senior Living consists of four one-story buildings with four apartments each: one two-bedroom and three one-bedrooms. In addition to wheelchair access, the new homes feature private front and rear porches, energy-efficient appliances and central heating and air conditioning. Residents have easy access to meals, transportation, educational and recreational opportunities, fitness classes and counseling at the nearby senior center.

The campus is also home to Greenville Farm Kitchen, a non-profit organization that processes and distributes hand-crafted foods throughout West Virginia. MCCOA’s original plan for the site will be complete with its conversion of the old school building into a community center, replete with office space and a gym for community and school use.

Heath credits FHLBank and the WVHDF for their critical support in developing the project. “Bottom line, we could not have done this project without WVHDF and FHLBank Pittsburgh. I cannot say enough about both organizations and their staffs.”

While Greenville Senior Housing represents Bank of Monroe’s first experience with AHP, it was not its last. When FHLBank provided down payment assistance to West Virginia homeowners impacted by flooding that ravaged the area in 2016, Bank of Monroe gave loans on the properties. In 2017, King received the Council’s Award from FHLBank for his outstanding work in promoting stability and revitalization.

Reflecting on his experience working with FHLBank, King said, “FHLBanks play a huge role across the country. There are so many places in our area that can benefit from their funding and support, and we are fortunate that FHLBank Pittsburgh has always responded."

TD Bank Gives Unoccupied Space New Life, Creates Senior Housing

Over the past 40 years, Philadelphia’s Fairhill neighborhood has strived to revitalize. Once a blighted post-industrial district, Fairhill – served by El Centro de Oro or “The Golden Center” commercial district – is today the city’s center of Hispanic and Latino life and culture. This community comprises nearly 85% of Fairhill’s population, and the area is home to diverse businesses, arts and cultural organizations, and welcoming public spaces.

Fairhill’s growing success as a community is due in no small part to the Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises (HACE), a local 501(c)(3) community development organization. Founded in 1982, HACE has invested more than $200 million to create affordable housing and promote Fairhill’s economic development, while encouraging the community’s residents to take ownership of their own economic trajectory.

In 2018, HACE began planning for Casa Indiana. The project would provide affordable rental housing for one of the community’s fastest growing populations: low-income seniors – many with language and cultural barriers limiting their access to essential services. Built on a property that had sat vacant for more than 30 years, the project was also planned to serve as an anchor for future economic development.

TD Bank helped source financing for this project by providing a $6.8 million bridge loan for construction, which along with developer fees, would be repaid with $11.4 million of low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC). Additional funding included $2 million from the City of Philadelphia, $1.8 million in Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE) and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) funds, and an additional $456,000 equity contribution by HACE. Rental subsidies are being provided by the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

The City of Philadelphia donated the abandoned property – a brownfield requiring significant environmental remediation and containment. During the LIHTC underwriting process, costs for the environmental work escalated, exceeding the project’s original estimate. Faced with paying the additional expense out-of-pocket, HACE applied for an Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank).

Established by Congress, AHP provides grants and subsidized loans for the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing for households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income. Housing developers partner with FHLBank members to apply for AHP funding, which is offered through one competitive funding round each year.

TD Bank sponsored HACE’s application and the project received a $405,000 award.

“AHP is such a great resource for affordable housing,” said Amy Derstine, HACE’s relationship manager at TD Bank. “The fact that HACE was able to use these funds for environmental remediation was a huge advantage for this project.”

HACE President and CEO Maria Gonzalez concurs. “The AHP award was a timely and essential resource for making this project happen. It was absolutely critical to filling our funding gap and helping us move forward on-budget and on-schedule.”

Casa Indiana opened on June 18, 2020. All 50 one-bedroom apartments were leased within 45 days, which underscored Fairhill’s need for affordable senior housing. Eight of the units are accessible for individuals with mobility challenges and two are equipped for those with hearing and visual impairments. All are adaptable to accommodate the changing needs of residents as they age in place. The project, which includes a community room, library and garden for the residents, received a 2020 award from the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Institute of Architects for building excellence.

All of Casa Indiana’s residents earn 50% or less than the area median income. Working with community partners, HACE offers them a range of support services – from rental subsidy and utility assistance to weekly deliveries of meat and produce. A partnership with Mercy Health provides residents with medical and other services through the Life Center located just three blocks away.

As with the other properties it has developed, HACE will continue to own and maintain Casa Indiana to ensure it will be available and affordable for the next generation of Fairhill’s seniors. “In addition,” says Gonzalez, “this enables HACE to provide jobs for local residents.”

“Fairhill is an area of focus for TD Bank,” adds Derstine, “and we were eager to partner on this project – as a lender and sponsor of HACE’s AHP application. It’s truly rewarding to make a positive difference for Fairhill’s seniors and the community as a whole.”

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About FHLBank Pittsburgh
FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com.