resources.
Connnection to Resources
Community development work can feel overwhelming, especially when information is scattered across agencies, organizations, and systems. CoHub’s Resources section brings together tools, guides, funding opportunities, templates, and practical information to help communities move projects forward with more clarity and less friction.
Whether you’re exploring a new idea, preparing for a grant opportunity, or looking for examples and best practices, these resources are designed to support real-world community work.
resource library
Pennsylvania State Data Center
Primary source data catered directly to Pennsylvania. Various data topics available from education, employment, health, demographics, income, etc
Appreciative Inquiry Fact sheet
If you are in the early stages of project development, conducting an Appreciative Inquiry workshop might be helpful. Linked is a fact sheet which details what Appreciative Inquiry is, and sample questions that could be adapted for your own community
Community Benefits Plan Template
The purpose of this document is to summarize the specific objectives the Applicant is committing to in its Community Benefits Plan (CBP), in quantifiable terms with SMART milestones – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely – and timelines wherever possible.
Energy Generation for Renewable Energy
Interactive maps detailing the potential energy generation for Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Hydro, and Bioenergy by county
AllTransit
AllTransit increases our understanding of the value of transit by going beyond simple measures of "where transit exists" to nuanced interpretations of transit quality. AllTransit analyzes the social benefits of good transit service through the lenses of health, equity, and economic development, and users can rely on this information to improve transit in their own cities
An Overview of Strategic Planning or "VMOSA" (Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategies, and Action Plans)
In-depth step-by-step guides on strategic planning and well-defined to your project's Vision, Mission, and Objectives, and Strategies, and actions.
FCC Broadband Map
An interactive web map of where Internet services are available across the United States, as reported by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to the FCC
Regional Data Center
Primary source data catered directly to the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.
Climate Impacts in The U.S.
An interactive map that shows how vulnerable communities face challenges related to infrastructure, health, environmental hazards etc.
Census Data Explorer
Data Explorer by the United States Census Bureau. Primary source data on various topics from demographics, income, employment, health, etc
Guidebook for PA Landowners: Leasing Property for Large-Scale Solar Development
This Guidebook will help landowners navigate the nuances of solar lease agreements from start to finish and highlight important legal, technical, and practical considerations that are part of solar land-leasing
Budgets for Beginners
A step by step guide on how to develop a budget for your projects. Included is a guided worksheet, a glossary of terms, template budget spreedsheet downloadable in google sheets and excel.
Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard (PIRS)
A toolkit more tailored to urban planners, but this guidebook and score provide metrics and guidance for best land use practices that promote urban resilience in the face of natural hazards to ensure communities are prepared for challenges.
NACo County Explorer
An interactive web map detailing economic data, housing affordability, and more by county
A guide to Community Benefits in Southwestern Pennsylvania
An overview of community benefits agreements and their use in Southwestern PA. The guide includes tools, templates, and examples that your community can adapt and modify.
Transportation Data
Reports and data compiled by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission on mobility
RISE PA Community Benefits Bonus (CBB) Checklist for Small Scale Award Track
The Hub has curated a community benefits checklist for Small-Scale Award Track Applicants to the PA DEP's RISE PA program.
Inclusive Growth Score
Interactive map detailing various indicators
The Community Resilience Index (CRI)
A self assessment to determine your community's readiness regarding disaster preparedness
How's My Waterway
An interactive map that gives an overview of the condition of local waters
Census Reporter
Simplified explorer that makes accessing census data easier. Useful for basic exploratory data analysis
PA's Reclaimed Abandoned Mine Land Inventory
Interactive map of the location of abandoned mine land in Pennsylvania
Guidebook for PA Municipalities
This guidebook seeks to inform officials and municipal leaders of typical solar development processes, zoning, and ordinances as well as permitting and incentives. Special emphasis is placed on development and preservation of farmlands and agriculture and the benefits to local communities from solar.
NACo Housing Affordability Profiles
Gives in-depth profiles on housing affordability by county.
PA Open Data Portal
A data repository that makes data available from various state departments and agencies
How to Write a Grant Proposal
An overview on how to write grant proposals, but includes good guidance on refining the need statement and project's outcomes.
Engagement Toolbox
A practical guide designed for practitioners on effective community engagement strategies. The toolbox includes articles on various engagement topics/strategies with step-by-step guides, Worksheets, webinars, and additional resources.
H+T Map | H+T Index
An interactive map detailing housing and transportation cost of American families by census track
Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center
An initiative of the University of Pittsburgh that makes primary source datasets easily accessible to the public. These datasets are sourced from various government agencies and departments at all levels (federal, state, and local.
The Urban Sustainability Framework (USF)
A framework and toolkit that gives urban practitioners the metrics and indicators that are useful in promoting sustainability in communities.
Smart Location Mapping
This page features interactive mapping tools and data for measuring location efficiency and the built environment.
Communications to Promote Interest and Participation Toolkits
In-depth step-by-step guides on communication strategies and ways to increase and deepen community participation
Program Development Toolkit for Equitable Climate Action
In partnership with DEP and the U.S. Climate Alliance, Fourth Economy developed this Program Development Toolkit. The Program Development Toolkit presents a variety of questions that could be posed by departmental (DEP) staff and/or other program developers in ensuring inclusive community development.
Community Benefits Materials Bank
A continuously updated repository of community benefits materials
RISE PA Community Benefits Bonus (CBB) Checklist for Medium and Large-Scale Award Track
The Hub has curated a community benefits checklist for Medium & Large-Scale Award Track Applicants to the PA DEP's RISE PA program. Large-Scale Award Track Applicants must complete a Community Benefits Plan, which is a legally binding document.
Maps/GIS Data Sources - SPC Water Resource Center
A repository of previous water-related reports developed for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission counties.
Pennsylvania's oil and gas pollution
An interactive map of Pennsylvania well sites – detailing the amount of methane and volatile organic compounds emitted from oil and gas sites.
Enviro-Social Mapping Platform
ACCD's new mapping resource brings together environmental, social, government, and infrastructure data in one easy-to-use platform.
Assessing Community Needs and Resources
In depth and step-by-step guides on ways to assess community needs and best practice guides on methods to uncover community
County Fact Sheets - Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania
Fact sheets for all 67 Counties in Pennsylvania on housing affordability and rent burden
Prosperity Now Scorecard
Inputting any location outputs an in-depth fact sheet of stats on financial health and security
Grant Writing: 3 Tips for Crafting Need Statements in Federal Grant Proposals
Overview of what a need statement is and tips for writing them in grant proposals.
Making infrastructure more equitable and inclusive
A concise article giving an overview of community benefits agreements and their role in inclusive community development, and links to sample CBAs from different infrastructure projects.
Monitoring and evaluation : some tools, methods, and approaches
While a bit technical, this guide gives practitioners the tools and skill set in order to monitor and evaluate impact.
Transform Your Practice: A community engagement card deck
A card deck and case studies that help bust community engagement myths and give practical ideas for effective outreach
Digital Opportunity Map
Interactive web map detailing broadband access by county
Ready to Write! - Strategies and Tools for Writing a Competitive Municipal Assistance Program (MAP)
A step by step toolkit for writing a competitive application for the PA Dept of Community Economic Development Municipal Assistance Program.
ISO 37120 Sustainable development of communities -- Indicators for city services and quality of life
A standardized framework by the International Standards Organization that collects various metrics and indicators that communities can use to pursue sustainable development.
AARP Livability Index score
A scorecard that gives data on various factors that makes a community liveable, from
The Opportunity Atlas
An interactive map that indexes Americans' chances for economic opportunity and mobility
Inclusive Community Engagement Toolkit
A toolkit that provides various engagement strategies from one-to-one, small and large groups, and lists potential barriers and challenges community members may face to participate
Enviro-Social Mapping Platform (Digital Infrastructure)
The Enviro-Social Mapping Platform centralizes GIS layers to support municipal and community planning and grant writing.
Just Communities
A community and professional certification for an equitable community development model that includes 22 metrics under 5 priority areas of environment, opportunity, belonging, wellbeing and mobility.
Household Energy and Transportation Burden
An interactive map detailing Energy and transportation burden (households spending a large amount of income on transportation and housing)
Capital for Communities Scorecard
A scorecard to inform project planners of the social, economic, and environmental impacts that a proposed real estate development or operating business investment may have on communities.
How to Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
In depth how-to guide and explanation on how to develop a monitoring and evaluation plan to gauge your project's impact.
Development for Nondevelopers
Understanding real estate development can be confusing for non developers. This report by the Urban Land Institute helps to break down the in and outs of real estate development and all the steps that turn ideas into reality.
What Is a Need Statement?
Overview of what a need statement is and tips for writing them in grant proposals.
Sustainable Pennsylvania
A municipal certificate that assesses local government sustainability on metrics regarding economic development, resilience, energy, land use and housing, parks & conservation, water, waste and materials management, municipal operations, health and public safety, & transportation
Community Infrastructure Center
The CIC operates as a digital platform that connects community project sponsors with essential resources
New Markets Tax Credit Program And Opportunity Zones Map
An Interactive Map that allows you to enter any address and see if your project is located in an Opportunity Zone and is qualified under the New Markets Tax Credit Program.
Community Benefits Agreements Database
A database of publicly available Community Benefits agreements for clean energy projects. The database includes links to the CBA, and summaries of the projects and benefits agreed upon.
US Climate Resilience Map
An interactive map that shows communities the risks from natural hazards like drought, storms, and wildfires compared to demographic data
Start the Conversation.
Every project starts somewhere. Help CoHub learn more about your community, project, or idea so we can better understand where support may be helpful. You do not need to have everything figured out to reach out. Whether you’re exploring funding opportunities, building readiness, developing a project, or simply trying to understand what’s possible, this is a place to start the conversation.
Field Day
3706 Butler St, #304
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
yinz@swpahub.org
412-532-6026