Allentown has been recognized as a national leader in tackling public sector hiring challenges, earning the title of “Spotlight City” from Work for America. The honor makes Allentown only the second city in the country to receive this distinction, according to a release.
The partnership aims to bring mission-driven talent to City Hall, improve hiring systems, and position Allentown as a model for local governments nationwide. Mayor Matt Tuerk will also serve on Work for America’s inaugural advisory board.
“When I took office, one of our biggest challenges was building capacity in city government,” said Mayor Tuerk. “Strong teams are what allow us to deliver for our residents. That’s why I’m proud for Allentown to be a Spotlight City.”
Work for America first partnered with the City in late 2025 through Civic Match, a national platform connecting laid-off federal employees and other mission-driven professionals with state and local public service roles. Civic Match now helps more than 11,000 displaced workers connect to over 1,000 hiring managers across state and local governments nationwide.
As part of the Spotlight City initiative, Work for America will:
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Host a workshop with city employees to co-create an Employee Value Proposition for Allentown’s future recruitment efforts
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Support innovative, sustainable recruitment strategies tailored to the City’s most critical staffing needs
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Lead a walking tour with Mayor Tuerk to showcase what living and working in Allentown has to offer
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Add Mayor Tuerk to the Work for America national Advisory Board, helping shape public workforce policy at a broader scale
Allentown will be the second of three Spotlight Cities launched in 2025, as Work for America expands its initiative to strengthen local public sector teams and improve service delivery.
