Allegheny Conference on Community Development

Our team is on the ground in Carlisle this week, exhibiting at Senator Dave McCormick's PA Defense & Innovation Summit at the Army War College! 🇺🇸⚙️

It has been an incredible opportunity to showcase how the Pittsburgh region is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of American industrial evolution. Historically, our region built the physical foundation of the country. Today, the Pittsburgh ecosystem is blending that historic manufacturing muscle with cutting-edge advancements in robotics, AI, and advanced materials. We aren't just writing code—we are building physical solutions that solve real-world problems.

During this morning's bipartisan panel, Senator McCormick, Governor Josh Shapiro, and leadership from Penn State University discussed a critical truth: innovation is national security.

The discussion focused on how to turn world-class university research into commercial success. As Governor Shapiro shared, Pennsylvania has a legacy as the "arsenal of democracy," but we aren't resting on that history. We have all the right ingredients to lead the nation's security innovation:

🤝 Deep public and private collaboration

🛠️ A world-class workforce and skilled trades

🎓 Groundbreaking university research

⚡ A state government ready to work at the speed of business

How do you build the next generation of American industry? You pair world-class software with a region that actually knows how to make things.

A big thank you to Senator Dave McCormick for his leadership in bringing together Pennsylvania’s brightest minds and putting our innovation corridors on the national stage.

👉 Read more about why Pennsylvania’s industrial and technology base is becoming a powerhouse for the nation's most critical sectors: https://lnkd.in/gd3B3a37

When the Conference began its work in 2023 to create a Downtown Vision Plan, the number one thing we knew we had to do was create a neighborhood where individuals, couples, and families could envision themselves being.

Office conversions like the one celebrated this morning of the Smithfield Lofts create a downtown neighborhood that does just that - creating a livable community that is engaging, vibrant, and welcoming. The office-to-residential conversion project is of a 124-year-old, 12-story office tower. When complete, it will provide 46 one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units, 39 of which will be affordable. The project will contain 12 units for people with hearing or vision loss; nine will be fully accessible.

It would not have been possible without officials including Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger, Allegheny County Government Office of the Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, and City of Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor.

This is one of several housing projects identified in that plan and we couldn’t be happier to see this conversion move forward. Congratulations to Woda Cooper Companies, Inc., the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, PNC and others engaged in this project on this milestone.

We look forward to joining you for a ribbon cutting next year - and to seeing people living here, kids running through the halls, and the energy that this space will bring to downtown.