The Panther Valley Blueprint Community Team completed the final session of its 18-month training program, preparing members to implement the group’s five-year plan.

The team traveled to Harrisburg last week for its graduation, a milestone as members embark on their 10-year journey as a certified Pennsylvania Blueprint Community. The team is made up of representatives from the four Panther Valley communities — the boroughs of Coaldale, Lansford, Nesquehoning and Summit Hill — along with the Panther Valley School District.

The Panther Valley communities learned of the opportunity to seek the Blueprint designation two years ago and banded together to submit an application, becoming one of 10 candidate teams selected in the spring of 2024.

The team worked with a coach from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center as it went through training sessions, meetings, community engagement efforts, surveys and advocacy aimed at moving the needle on revitalization and community development in the four boroughs.

The Blueprint program was started by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh in 2005 to help breathe new life into communities in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia, connecting them with resources to turn plans into action.

The Panther Valley team was one of 10 teams selected from eastern Pennsylvania for the designation — an opportunity that comes to the region only once every 15 to 18 years.