Council committee approves $210,000 for 2025 Neighborhood Employment Program; city staff outline provider network

The Human Resources committee voted to recommend approval of Bill 526, authorizing up to $210,000 to support the 2025 Neighborhood Employment Program. City staff said the program uses a reimbursement model to support existing community employment organizations and to create a service network that can share job opportunities and streamline access to city hiring.

Chris Barnes, youth program supervisor for the city, and Diane Le Pensky, the city's fiscal and contracting coordinator, said the program selected six providers through a recent RFP from 13 applicants. The six organizations are Pittsburgh Community Services, the Kingsley Association, East End Community Ministries, Davis Consulting/Resolution Solutions, Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, and the Carnegie Library on Forbes (the transcript lists program names as presented). Each provider was awarded an initial allocation (historically $35,000) and additional leftover funds from prior cycles increased awards for this year (staff cited awards around $47,000 in some instances). The funds are intended to support program staffing, equipment and operations and to create a coordinated network of providers that will connect residents to job fairs and city opportunities.

Council members asked about funding sources and clarified that funding would come from CDBG and prior-year carryover; staff confirmed grants and fiscal processes. The committee voted in favor of the bill with an affirmative recommendation.

The committee asked staff to return with program updates as the network meets and implements outreach in neighborhoods.