In 2001, Bethlehem’s City government, non-profits, businesses, and residents came together to develop a strategy to ensure the Southside’s future as economic, social, and cultural center for the region. Based on an initial master plan drafted in 2001 and renewed in 2013, Southside Vision’s Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) seeks to build off of the community’s assets in order to create a bett
er community with and for those who live, work, and play within its borders. Southside Vision brings together stakeholders to implement community-based projects in the areas of economic sustainability, housing, public spaces, safety and wellbeing, and community engagement and communication. By mobilizing resources and capitalizing on community assts, Southside Vision seeks to create a South Bethlehem that is:
• A vibrant and healthy community where people want to live, work, and play
• A place where residents of all ages feel connected, engaged, and full of hope for the future
• A stable, united community that is enriched by the ideas, resources, and active involvement of residents, business owners, community leaders, and students
• A diverse microcosm of the global marketplace
• A community where residents have access to meaningful jobs that pay a living wage
• Open and green with plentiful opportunities for outdoor recreational activities
• Beautifully designed with modern streetscapes, updated residential and commercial façades, and public art
• A shopping and entertainment destination for residents of the Lehigh Valley and beyond
• An exciting, lively community with frequent events and activities
Southside Vision is a program of Community Action Development Corporation of Bethlehem, administered in partnership with the City of Bethlehem with support from PPL, Just Born Quality Confections, Peoples Security Bank and Trust, Provident Bank, and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
