Blueprint Communities® Program
A Community Revitalization Initiative of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh in partnership with the University of Delaware Center for Community Research and Service.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION & UPCOMING DATES
- Online Application Opens: August 29th, 2026 (Online application will be available here)
- Application Due: October 23rd, 2026
- Interest form: Prior to submitting application
- Informational Webinars: September 24 & September 30, 2026, 5:30pm
- Community Selection: December 2026
- Download Information Sheet
- For more information contact Roger Hesketh
Becoming A Blueprint Community
Blueprint Communities® is an initiative of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) that revitalizes communities and neighborhoods in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Created by FHLBank in 2005, the initiative prepares and supports Blueprint Communities teams as they develop and implement a revitalization plan.
Through training, technical assistance, coaching, and financial support, Blueprint Communities empowers stakeholders by fostering collaborative community planning, strengthening local capacity, and expanding access to the tools and resources needed to build sustainable, healthy communities. The initiative strengthens local capacity while connecting communities to public and private investment opportunities that help bring revitalization efforts to life.
Applications will soon be accepted for the 2027 Blueprint Communities Delaware cohort. For more information about FHLBank and Blueprint Communities, read this PDF. To see the impact of the program, watch this video.
The University of Delaware Biden School is proud to partner with FHLBank to support selected Delaware communities.
Eligibility Requirements
Population
Reside in a community with a population of less than 30,000 (slightly larger may be considered).
Identify a fiscal agent to host mini-grant funding (ideally a non-profit)
Demonstrate local leadership and past successful collaboration
Demonstrate commitment to the training schedule of the program
Demonstrate a desire and need for a detailed implementable strategic action plan
Assemble a team of 8-10 members committed to program participation, including:
Community representatives
Local government official
Fiscal agent
Representative of a community-based organization
Economic development professional
Housing developer or real estate specialist
Team Requirements
Team members should be highly motivated to work to revitalize the community.
They should have different skillsets and experiences that are useful for identifying, planning and implementing community priorities.
It is important that the team is reflective of those in the community on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, age, education, job position, and income.
Team members must confirm willingness to fully participate in the training and events before they are included in this application.
For further support during the application process, please complete the Interest Form prior to submitting your application, to Roger Hesketh at rogergh@udel.edu
"Blueprint Communities" is a registered service mark of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns, contact the CCRS office, and/or schedule a meeting to speak with Roger Hesketh, Director of Community Revitalization.