Donovan spoke Thursday at a statewide public meeting of the advocacy group Building One Pennsylvania, a coalition of community leaders working toward revitalizing their regions.

"You care about your communities and what happens to them," he said.

President Barack Obama has the same caring perspective, Donovan said. Obama's history as a community organizer means he understands and will work with community organizers to fight for the same values and beliefs, Donovan said.

"Misguided policies that rewarded wealth over work (and) special interests over opportunity started to erode the engines of America's economic growth," he said.

In response to the struggling economy, Obama's administration enacted a series of measures — tax credits, unemployment extensions and housing investments — to assist people and businesses, he said.

"Since Obama took office, HUD-approved housing counselors have helped nearly 6 million families," Donovan said. "Distressed homeowners working with our counselors are twice as likely to be able to stay in their homes."

More than 5 million families have restructured their mortgages for an average savings of $300 per month, he said.

Donovan also addressed education reform, foreclosure settlements, flood relief and neighborhood grants, which are part of Obama's ongoing reform efforts.

To tackle economic challenges of the 21st century, a regional approach is needed, Donovan said. Solutions must be tailored to the area, not a one-size-fits-all, he said.

"I'm proud of all of the work we've done," Donovan said. "Now it's time to take the work to the next level," he said.