Allentown Named National ‘Spotlight City’ in Effort to Reinvent Public Sector Hiring
Work for America partnership tackles staffing crisis and highlights Allentown as a national model
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: press@workforamerica.org | genesis.ortega@allentownpa.gov
Date: Monday, September 29, 2025
ALLENTOWN, PA — At a moment when nationwide staffing challenges threaten core public services, Allentown today became the second city in the country selected as a Spotlight City in Work for America’s national initiative to strengthen local public workforces.
The partnership will bring mission-driven talent to City Hall, modernize hiring systems, and make Allentown a national model for how local governments can deliver more effectively for residents. Mayor Matt Tuerk will also join Work for America’s inaugural advisory board.
“When I took office, one of our biggest challenges was building capacity in city government,” said Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk. “I saw firsthand how much it matters to have strong teams in place - because that’s what allows us to deliver for our residents. That’s why I’m proud for Allentown to be a Spotlight City, and grateful to partner with Work for America to keep building the workforce our community deserves.”
“Allentown’s public servants don’t just do their jobs - they show up for their community with heart,” said Caitlin Lewis, Executive Director of Work for America. “Mayor Tuerk embodies that same commitment, and we’re excited to spotlight the incredible people who make the city work.”
Work for America and the City of Allentown have worked in close partnership since November 2025 when Allentown joined Civic Match, Work for America’s talent-matching platform helping laid-off federal employees find new local public service roles. Through this effort, Civic Match is helping more than 11,000 displaced workers connect to new opportunities from over 1,000 hiring managers across state and local governments nationwide.
As part of the Spotlight Cities launch, Work for America is:
Hosting a workshop with 16 City employees to co-create an Employee Value Proposition for the City to use in their future recruitment efforts;
Supporting innovative, sustainable recruitment strategies customized to support Allentown’s most critical hiring needs;
Joining Mayor Tuerk on a walking tour of Allentown to showcase what makes living in and working for the city so great;
Adding Mayor Tuerk as a member of Work for America’s national Advisory Board, helping to shape the future of local public-sector talent nationwide.
Allentown will be the second of three Spotlight Cities to launch in 2025, as Work for America broadens its initiative to support local governments in strengthening their teams and serving their communities.
About Work for America
Work for America (WFA) is a nonpartisan nonprofit tackling the government staffing crisis by helping state and local governments recruit, hire, and retain the people they need to deliver for their communities. From launching Civic Match, a national platform connecting mission-driven talent with government jobs, to helping cities modernize hiring systems and tell a more compelling story about public service, WFA is making it easier for great people to serve — and for communities to thrive.
WFA’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and TIME for its innovative approach to rebuilding the public workforce. Learn more here.
