CADCA to provide $4 million to support Allentown kids with education, job development

CADCA to provide $4 million to support Allentown kids with education, job development

By Chloe Nouvelle

February 11, 2021

Millions of dollars are now flowing toward a workforce development program for Allentown’s children with the help of The Community Action Development Corporation of Allentown.

CADCA, as it’s better known, is part of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley. It works to strengthen neighborhoods in Allentown. 

And with the help of tax incentivized, corporate investments, the group says it has developed a range of programs to help inner city children have a better shot at thriving. 

Over the next six years, nearly $4 million will be spent on things like educational remediation, job development and placement, and programs that will help kids get into and get through college. 

CADCA Director Daniel Bosket says these programs were developed in partnership with parents.

“We’re not landing in telling them what they need. We’re instead asking them what they need, and then working side by side with them to make that happen,” Bosket says. “We’re going to be spending about $30,000, working on business as a vocation by getting students to meet other business owners, and then do some business training.” 

Parent Rebecca Ramos says it’s important that these programs don’t end when kids turn 18. 

“Giving the kids opportunities until the age of 24 to figure out what they want to do, what they want to become, and how they want to do it. I feel like that’s great,” Ramos says.

CADCA is also looking to establish a new youth center for the city’s kids.

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