Applications are now being accepted for this year’s Beautiful Blocks home improvement program in the cities of Carbondale, Scranton and Pittston.

Beautiful Blocks is jointly sponsored by NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania and the three cities. The program provides matching grants of up to $1,000 per property to groups of five or more residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. Eligible exterior improvements include landscaping and painting to larger projects like sidewalks, front porch repair, door and window replacement, and more.

For the 2026 program cycle, residents are eligible for an enhanced grant award for sidewalk projects that provides up to $2,000 per property in total funding toward replacement or significant repair of front sidewalks.

Grants will be awarded through a competitive application process. Applications will be judged on the number of participating residents, project impact and coordination and the likelihood of neighbors continuing to work together in the future. Preapplications are being accepted until Monday, March 30.

Awards will be announced in May. The work will take place throughout the summer and fall.

“We’re very excited to launch the eighth year of Beautiful Blocks in 2026,” NeighborWorks President and CEO Shane Powers said in a news release. “Once again, we are pleased to offer this program to residents residing in the cities of Carbondale, Pittston and Scranton. Based on the tremendous success of the sidewalk repairs initiative, we are excited to offer the increased grant amount for sidewalks again this year to all three communities. Improvements to sidewalks and to the exterior of homes across the community support vibrant and safe neighborhoods.”

Since the inception of Beautiful Blocks, over 130 block groups of residents have completed 950 projects. As part of these projects, more than $1 million in grants has been awarded, and participating residents have contributed over $2 million in matching funds.

In a statement included in the release, Carbondale Mayor Michele Bannon expressed support for Beautiful Blocks and its impact on the city.

“The Beautiful Block Program exemplifies what we can accomplish in Carbondale when residents, the city and our valued partner NeighborWorks NEPA come together with a shared vision for thriving neighborhoods,” Bannon said. “In 2025, we were proud to support 60 projects across 9 project groups, leveraging $69,522.27 in grant funds to help homeowners make meaningful improvements that strengthen community pride and enhance property conditions. This partnership has not only beautified our streets but also reinforced the spirit of collaboration that defines our city. As we look forward to the 2026 program year, we’re excited to build on that success, expanding opportunities, empowering more neighbors and continuing to transform blocks into vibrant places where people are proud to live, work and grow together.”

Public information sessions for residents interested in applying will be held:

Carbondale: Monday, Feb. 23, 6 p.m., community room at the Carbondale Public Library.

Pittston: Wednesday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m., John P. Cosgrove Center at the Pittston Memorial Library.

Scranton: Thursday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m., Henkelman Room at the Albright Memorial Library.

Residents can access the preapplication instructions and document online at the Beautiful Blocks’ program homepage at nwnepa.org/programs/cd/beautiful-blocks.html.

For more information, contact Gerard Hetman, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania community development specialist, at 570-558-2490 or ghetman@nwnepa.org.

More info

Applications are being accepted for this year’s Beautiful Blocks home improvement program in Carbondale. A public information session will be held Monday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. in the Carbondale Public Library community room.

Carbondale residents interested in applying can access the preapplication instructions and document online at nwnepa.org/programs/cd/beautiful-blocks.html.