ABOUT CATALYST⁴

Group of five construction workers standing together in a warehouse, with tools and boxes in the background, smiling and posing for the photo.

Serving Northampton and Lehigh Counties in Pennsylvania, CATALYST⁴ provides training in construction and other trades – helping to meet the demand for skilled workers, decrease unemployment, create affordable housing, and eliminate blight.

CATALYST⁴ began in 2019 with the belief that by providing an opportunity for employment, with a livable wage, a sustainable future for individuals and families could be assured.

By providing training in construction and other trades, we can help meet the demand for skilled workers, while decreasing unemployment, particularly for those whose past has made securing employment difficult. At the same time, we see the chance to increase the availability of affordable housing, eliminate blight, and develop a sense of community pride.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

COMMUNITY NEED

An old, abandoned multi-story brick building with boarded-up windows, graffiti, and deteriorating exterior, situated on a street with a brick retaining wall and stairs.

Photo by Flickr user Warren LeMay.

CATALYST⁴ was created in response to a growing need in the Lehigh Valley — one that became even more urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic.


The pandemic made life harder for those already facing challenges. Hands-on job training disappeared. Unemployment spiked, especially for unskilled workers. Affordable housing became scarce as rent prices rose and evictions increased. Blighted, neglected properties became more common as landlords struggled to maintain them.

These conditions hit hardest for those without access to technology, support systems, or second chances — including people with past justice involvement, mental health or substance use challenges, and others who have been pushed to the margins.

CATALYST⁴ exists to change that.
By offering free job training, career support, and community connection, we help people build stable futures — while also helping to strengthen our neighborhood.

OUR MISSION

To revitalize communities in Lehigh and Northampton Counties by increasing access to affordable housing and providing hands-on job training in construction and other trades — empowering individuals facing employment barriers to build stable, self-sufficient futures.

OUR VISION

A stronger, more equitable Lehigh Valley where blighted properties are transformed into homes, underserved individuals earn livable wages, and every community has the tools for long-term stability and the opportunity to thrive.

Please see our Important Dates listings for the next meeting of the CATALYST⁴ Board of Directors.

OUR PARTNERS