Commission on Economic Opportunity
About
People Helping People Build Stronger Futures
Creating opportunity, stability, and hope across Northeastern Pennsylvania
For more than five decades, the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) has worked to confront the causes of poverty and reduce its effects on individuals, families, and communities. Rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to opportunity, CEO provides essential services that help people meet their basic needs, achieve stability, and move toward self-sufficiency.
Through compassion, collaboration, and community action, CEO supports children, adults, seniors, and veterans throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania — offering food assistance, housing stability services, employment programs, and advocacy efforts that strengthen families and uplift entire communities.
Our Mission
The mission of CEO is simple and powerful:
To promote self-sufficiency among low-income and vulnerable populations by confronting the causes and reducing the effects of poverty.
Since its founding, CEO has served as a cornerstone of support for Luzerne County and the surrounding region, working hand-in-hand with local organizations, businesses, and volunteers. Together, we provide pathways to stability, dignity, and long-term success.At the heart of CEO’s work is the belief that everyone deserves access to opportunity. Whether it’s helping a family put food on the table, guiding someone through job training, or connecting veterans with the resources they’ve earned, CEO’s mission remains clear: to create a community where every person has the chance to thrive.
Our Core Goals
CEO’s programs and services are guided by the following goals:
01.
Respond to basic needs of children, adults, and seniors experiencing poverty.
02.
Increase economic self-sufficiency among low-income individuals and families.
03.
Promote renewable energy and environmentally sustainable innovations that help reduce the effects of poverty.
04.
Support the positive development of low-income children, youth, and their families.
05.
Promote the health and independence of elderly and disabled individuals through supportive, in-home services.
06.
Provide leadership in policy issues affecting low-income households across the region.
These goals shape everything we do — from food distribution and workforce training to veteran support and community advocacy.
What We Do
CEO’s services are designed to meet people where they are and help them move forward. Our programs include:
Food & Nutrition
CEO connects families with food assistance, nutrition programs, and resources to build healthier, more food-secure communities.
Employment Opportunities
We provide job training, GED support, and career readiness programs to help individuals overcome barriers to employment.
SNAP / Food Stamp Program
We partner with state welfare offices to simplify SNAP enrollment and ensure more families get access to affordable, nutritious food.
McGowan Center for Healthy Living
Our Center for Healthy Living strengthens food security with expanded storage, fresh produce, and nutrition education.
Veterans
We help veterans and their families find housing stability, employment, and support through our dedicated SSVF and HVRP programs.
Housing
CEO helps working families with children, fixed-income senior citizens, veterans, and the disabled acquire and maintain adequate housing.
Policy Leadership & Advocacy
CEO is recognized statewide and nationally for its leadership in shaping policies that impact low-income individuals and families. Our advocacy efforts include:
Comprehensive Responses to Homelessness
CEO has been honored by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for its leadership within Luzerne County’s Continuum of Care, helping guide regional planning for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Advocacy for Environmentally Sustainable Innovations
CEO and its executive director hold national leadership roles in advancing environmentally sound technologies — innovations that offer new hope in reducing the effects of poverty for the region’s most vulnerable communities.
Utility Rate Protections
As Pennsylvania’s gas and electric industries have transitioned from regulated monopolies to competitive markets, CEO has championed the rights of low-income and elderly ratepayers, ensuring their needs are represented during restructuring and rate increase discussions.