Priority Neighborhoods
Allentown Works focuses on reducing the 12.1% Prime-Age Employment Gap (PAEG) in the priority neighborhoods of Franklin Park, Center City, and the Wards and the overall citywide PAEG by 4.75% by 2030. The PAEG refers to community members between the ages of 25-54 years of age who are not in the workforce. The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) uses the PAEG of a community to determine if it is economically distressed, when communities have a PAEG of less than 5%, they are no longer considered economically distressed.
By implementing strategies to facilitate local employment, expand access to needs-responsive childcare, enhance transportation options, and build connections to high opportunity industries such as manufacturing and healthcare,
Through the Allentown Works program, by 2030, over 650 residents in the priority neighborhoods will be connected to employment and in stable, long-term jobs, resulting in a 60% reduction of the PAEG in these neighborhoods. With this reduction of the PAEG in the priority neighborhoods, the citywide PAEG will be 4.75%, and Allentown will no longer qualify as an economically distressed community.
Allentown Works will help residents to thrive. The Allentown Works program will support those ages 25-54 in earning higher wages, accessing stable, long-term employment, and connecting to services such as affordable childcare and enhanced transportation options that will support a new chapter of opportunity in their communities.