JULY 2010
View the 'Events' Section
People. Progress. Pittsburgh.
Some four million Delta airline passengers around the world have been reading about what puts the "it" in Pittsburgh. Delta's Sky Magazine, the airline's in-flight publication, features a 20-page special supplement entitled "People. Progress. Pittsburgh." Focusing on innovation and revitalization, the supplement emerges on the heels of the one-year anniversary of Delta's non-stop transatlantic service between Pittsburgh and Paris.
In the supplement, you'll discover that innovation may be the lifeblood of the Pittsburgh region, but at the heart you'll find the region's creative, forward-thinking people who keep the region working—and playing—like no other American city. With innovative technologies, lower unemployment, one of the nation's strongest commercial real estate markets and city neighborhood revitalization all in the repertoire, it's no wonder the region's dynamic, balanced economy stood strong during the recession.
Investments by innovative, global organizations are propelling the region forward, with particular strengths in advanced manufacturing, healthcare and life sciences, information and communications technology, financial and business services, energy and education in addition to a thriving arts and cultural scene. Read the supplement | Learn more about the Pittsburgh Model (PDF)
More Economic Development News
Marcellus Shale to Fuel Job Boom
"Marcellus Shale is said to be the biggest natural gas field in the United States, spanning nearly 61 million underground acres across Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. Southwestern Pennsylvania is called the "fairway" of the shale by industry experts." Read more | View the Pittsburgh region Natural Gas fact sheet (PDF)
Universal Electric Corp. in Canonsburg Goes Global, Hiring
"Universal Electric Corp. (UEC) is taking its electrical power solutions around the world, expanding with new offices in Asia and Europe and hiring. UEC's customizable power distribution system, STARLINE, is helping to electrify companies in more than 30 countries. The company employs 131 at its corporate headquarters and manufacturing center in Canonsburg, has recently increased staff and predicts rapid growth through the end of the year." Read more
PRA Mission Facilitates Pittsburgh/Vietnam University Partnership
Penn State Greater Allegheny and Duy Tan University in Da Nang, Vietnam signed an agreement last January for an academic collaboration in which Penn State Greater Allegheny will train some 100 faculty members from Duy Tan University to deliver 24 business courses. The program, which kicked off recently, originated during a PRA mission to Vietnam in February 2009 during which Dr. Kurt Torell of Penn State Greater Allegheny met Bao Le Nguyen of Duy Tan, who expressed interest in diversifying partnerships in our region. Read more
TSI Flow, Drilling Industry Supplier, to Open in Bridgeville, Hiring
"TSI Flow Products, Texas-based distributor of parts and supplies—everything the drilling industry might need on the job from flow lines to fittings and plug valves—plans to open by mid-July. TSI is also opening a smaller store in Towanda, Pa. in September. The Bridgeville store will be hiring five to 10 people to start." Read more
Natural Gas Jobs Continue to Flow in Pennsylvania
"An industry-funded study by Penn State University on the impact of natural gas development projected that Pennsylvania will have 88,000 jobs by the end of the year created directly or indirectly by the $7 billion industry. Between 12,000 and 13,000 people are directly employed by gas companies involved in production in the Marcellus Shale region in the state. The industry is looking for engineers, technicians, lawyers, geologists, environmental scientists, government affairs representatives and land purchasers, among other positions." Read more
Monessen Glass Company to Open $3.7 Million Plant
"Indiana officials say Monessen-based Santelli Tempered Glass Inc. will invest $3.7 million in a new 32,500-square-foot plant in Elkhart. [The plant is expected to] create as many as 35 jobs by 2013." Read more
Precision Therapeutics Adding Employees as it Grows
Cancer therapy testing company, "Precision Therapeutics Inc. is on a growth track, with 240 employees and plans to hire at least 100 more over the next year. Some will work in newly leased laboratory and office space in Lawrenceville … It leased 22,000 square feet of space in the 43rd Street building known as the Chocolate Factory, as the company looks at moving into more colon tumor testing, along with pancreatic cancer and other areas." Read more
Fenner Dunlop Americas Cuts Ribbon on Corporate Headquarters
Conveyor belt manufacturer, Fenner Dunlop Americas, which announced the relocation of their headquarters from Atlanta to Pittsburgh last October, recently cut ribbon on their new 15,000-square-foot corporate headquarters in Omega Corporate Center in Robinson Township. The company expects to create 40 new jobs. Operating from Pittsburgh puts Fenner Dunlop at the heart of their North American business, allowing the company strategic access to their belting product manufacturing facilities in both Ohio and Canada, as well as to key locations in their newly acquired service businesses. View the photo gallery | View the Pittsburgh region Headquarters fact sheet (PDF)
American Eagle Plans Asian Expansion
Pittsburgh-based "American Eagle Outfitters Inc. plans to expand its international business with stores in China, including Hong Kong, [recently signing] an exclusive franchise agreement with the retail company Dickson Concepts (International) Limited, which represents many brands in Asia. The companies will open three stores in early 2011 in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai." Read more
Marcellus Shale Wastewater Treatment Plant Opens in Westmoreland
Reserved Environmental Services Inc. opened doors to their "new plant in Westmoreland County that will treat millions of gallons of wastewater used in the region's booming natural gas drilling industry … The [10,000-square-foot] plant has the capacity to treat 1.4 million gallons daily of the water used to fracture rock a mile underground in the Marcellus Shale. The plant currently has 14 employees working … and employment could increase to 30 workers." Read more
KPMG Survey Shows Pittsburgh Businesses Expecting Higher Profits in 2010
"The majority of Pittsburgh business leaders expect higher profits in 2010, a sign that the economy is healing, according to a new survey by the international accounting firm KPMG. Forty-six percent of those polled said they expected a moderate gain in profits this year, while another 14% projected a "significant" increase, the survey found." Read more
"St. Louis Could Learn a Lot from Pittsburgh"
"Former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy spoke to hundreds of attendees of the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis' annual meeting … By harnessing venture capital, incubators and the intellectual powerhouse of world-class universities, Pittsburgh has been able to transform itself … to a thriving entrepreneurial economy, Murphy said." Read more
Pittsburgh Entrepreneur Makes Millions Selling Pop Culture Tees
"[Kevin] Stecko, founder of 80sTees.com, was recently named Pennsylvania Small Business Person of the Year. 80sTees.com recently expanded to a new space in Mount Pleasant Township, a 45,000-square-foot warehouse and office that is stacked with rows of brightly colored tees and retro paraphernalia … Stecko employs 15 full-time and 13 part-time workers." Read more
Neville Island Revitalization Continues with a 90,000 SF Flex/Distribution Building
The revitalization of Neville Island continued with the ground breaking for Neville Grand, a $5 million speculative building consisting of 90,000 square feet of Flex/Distribution space located at 4800 Grand Avenue. Read more | View the photo gallery
Pittsburgh Ranked Most Affordable City to Buy a Home
"Pittsburgh never experienced the dramatic run-up in prices that characterized the national housing bubble--so it was spared the subsequent bust." Although homes have lost value across the nation, in Pittsburgh, "health care, education and technology jobs have kept incomes from plummeting dramatically and the unemployment rate is still below the national average. More people in Pittsburgh will find buying a home affordable than in any other major metro." Read more
Pittsburgh-based Start-up Cohera Medical Raises $12.7M, Plans European Launch
"Life sciences start-up Cohera Medical Inc. has raised $12.7 million of a $25 million funding round, money that will enable it to begin product sales in Europe and complete U.S. clinical trials. The North Shore-based developer of a surgical adhesive raised the money through investors who previously invested in the company." Read more
CMU, Bombardier in High-Tech Venture
"A new Carnegie Mellon University venture will try to make Pittsburgh an international focal point for advanced research on smart infrastructure systems, like sensors that monitor bridges and pipelines and robotic systems that control transit vehicles. The university and the Bombardier transportation company will open a $2.2 million research center on advanced infrastructure systems this fall." Read more
Synaptic Systems Incorporated Receives $10,000 Business Micro Grant from Fayette-Washington Keystone Innovation Zone (FWKIZ)
The Fayette-Washington Keystone Innovation Zone announced that Synaptic Systems Incorporated of Southpointe, Washington County has been awarded a $10,000 business micro grant for their innovative VDi technology. Founded in 2006, Synaptic is an IT solutions provider with expertise in implementing, monitoring, and managing network infrastructures to maximize clients' profitability and productivity.
Pittsburgh-based Robotics Start-up, Bossa Nova Concepts, Brings Robotic Toys to Area Stores
"Pittsburgh-area consumers will be among the first in the U.S. to buy Penbo, the bright pink robotic penguin, created by Oakland-based start-up Bossa Nova Concepts LLC, as part of the company's pilot sales program with retailer Toys "R" Us. The program is part of the company's planned U.S. launch of its robotic toys in time for the domestic holiday shopping season." Read more
PNC Announces $44.8 Million in Financing for Pennsylvania Businesses
"With 177% growth in 2009, it is no surprise that No. 6 on the list of Fortune magazine's '23 Who Laughed at the Recession' was Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank, lending once again and announcing earlier this month $44.8 million in financing to two PA businesses. Often thought as a regional institution, PNC's acquisition of National City of Cleveland boosted the bank to national status." Read more
PNC Ranked No. 7 in Report on 50 Largest Banks
PNC Financial Services Group Inc., Pittsburgh's largest bank, held its seventh place spot on the list of the nation's 50 largest banks and thrifts, according to a 1Q 2010 report by SNL Financial. Financial and business services is the region's leading industry sector, contributing 20% of the gross regional product and employing 53,000 people at nearly 4,000 firms. Read more | View the Pittsburgh region Financial and Business Services fact sheet (PDF)
Students Drawn to Nuclear Engineering Programs at Pittsburgh Area Universities
"Word travels very fast among students, and they are very interested in the nuclear engineering field as well as the job opportunities … Pennsylvania State University was recently awarded a share of $38 million in research grants from the Department of Energy. A record number of students – 120 – are expected to enter Penn State's nuclear engineering program as juniors in the fall." Read more
Cleveland Clinic Opens State-of-the-Art Autism Center in Fayette County
"Cleveland Clinic has teamed up with Highlands Hospital in Connellsville, Pa., to provide state-of-the-art services for children with autism in an underserved part of southwestern Pennsylvania. In addition, graduate students from California University of Pennsylvania will receive valuable experience for careers in special education at the new Autism Center, which is scheduled to open next year." Read more
Pittsburgh-based Federal Energy Lab Advancing Carbon Capture Technology
"Using technology developed at a federal energy laboratory in Pittsburgh's South Hills, scientists were able to track whether carbon dioxide stored underground escaped and mixed with the atmosphere's greenhouse gases, a federal researcher said." Read more
Former School to Become Green Center
"The 80-year-old former Connelley Technical Institute in the Hill District is slated to become a green technology demonstration showcase under the ownership of Pittsburgh Green Innovators Inc." Read more
Pitt Develops Fractracker, Datatool for All Things Marcellus Shale
"A unique online tool is tracking the gas fracing activity and encouraging the collaboration of researchers and environmentalists across three states … Fractracker allows researchers across many disciplines to collaborate directly with communities and citizens in the collection and analysis of data, with the potential to significantly influence future research and policy formulation." Read more
ChargeCar Project Opens its (Garage) Doors to the Public on Friday Nights
"In addition to the already converted Scion xB, [Carnegie Mellon's ChargeCar Project] is currently working to convert a Honda Civic [to electric]. The idea is to find a relatively low cost method or recipe for doing the [electric] conversion on this and similar vehicles, and giving that process to local garages so that they can actually perform these conversions … To help spread the word, the group is hosting community events at the Electric Garage every Friday." Read more
Phipps' Center for Sustainable Landscapes Chosen to Test New Green Design Rating System
"Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden's Center for Sustainable Landscapes, which is in its final phase of design, has been selected to join 175 other pilot programs to test a revolutionary new rating system for green landscape design called The Sustainable Sites Initiative, or SITES. SITES is similar to the LEED building rating system, but only for landscapes." Read more
Toronto Studies Pittsburgh's Management of G-20 Summit
"In preparation of hosting [the recent] G-20 economic summit, Toronto officials visited Pittsburgh to find out what officials here did right to ensure the summit ran smoothly … A security team from Toronto's Pearson International Airport and members of Toronto's police department flew to Pittsburgh earlier this year to find out how officers kept the peace and dealt with protesters." Read more
Cargo Development Targeting Asian Companies at Pittsburgh International Airport
"Trammell Crow Co. launched a marketing effort [last month] for a cargo-oriented development at Pittsburgh International Airport that hopes to attract tenants interested in a link to Asia. Developers hope to build 850,000 square feet of warehouse, distribution and air cargo buildings at PIT International LogisticsCentre, the name given the planned industrial park." Read more
AirTran and JetBlue Report 30% Climb in Passenger Traffic
"AirTran Airways and JetBlue Airways reported more than a 30% increase each in passengers at Pittsburgh International Airport in April 2010 compared to April 2009. The August schedule shows an increase of flight operations by 3.6% and 4.7% increase in seats available." Read more
Growth Industry Sprouts on Former Strip Mine Site
"A former coal strip mine site in Young Township that was reclaimed a decade ago is back in productive use again with the help of some agricultural practices that are relatively unusual in Indiana County. About 17 acres of land that were once mined by the R&P Coal Co. and later owned by CONSOL is still rocky and fairly steep. But the land is covered with more than 5,000 apple trees of the Steffenino Orchard. Steffenino received and continues to rely on agriculture specialists at Penn State University for ... soil analysis in applying fertilizer and other additives for his trees." Read more
Latrobe Specialty Steel Wins AMM Best Operational Improvement Award
Latrobe Specialty Steel's VIM-VAR expansion recently won the inaugural American Metal Market Award for Excellence for Best Operational Improvement. Its expansion supports growing demands for high quality vacuum melted steels from the U.S. military, as well as from many commercial aerospace, power generation and petroleum exploration customers. Read more
Pittsburgh Ranked No. 7 of "America's Best Places to Raise a Family"
Forbes.com ranked Pittsburgh seventh nationally on a list of the best places to raise a family, assessing factors such as a city's safety, affordability and educational opportunities. Read more
Pittsburgh Ranked 13th Most "Eco-Centric" City
"Pittsburgh ranked 13th of all the world's cities in Mercer, UK's new 'Eco-City Ranking.' Criteria for the ranking include water potability, sewage treatment and air pollution." Read more
Pittsburgh is the "Top City for Giving"
"Not a newcomer to the list of top five cities for citizens' donations to charity, Pittsburgh climbs from fourth place last year to the top spot in 2010 … Among the findings, the group notes that such factors as cost of living, market maturity and propensity for a region to more strongly identify with particular causes have pronounced impact on the results." Read more
Pittsburgh's "Most Livable" Assets Make it Ideal Place to Retire
"[Pittsburgh is] among five cities selected by Kiplinger as great cities for retirees. Kiplinger said Pittsburgh consistently is ranked one of the country's most livable cities, has a thriving arts scene and excellent health care." Read more
EVENTS
July 14 – IT Network Speakers Series: Innovation in the Cloud Presented by Google Exec.
Kristin Shevis, Director, Google Enterprise, will be speaking about innovating in the cloud and Google's vision for cloud computing. The Web is the epicenter of innovation and many predict that cloud computing will eclipse traditional client-based computing by the end of the decade. Google has been pushing the technological bounds of cloud computing for more than ten years. Cloud computing enables businesses to expand innovation at an unprecedented pace, allowing instant access to information regardless of device, operating system or location. Kristin leads Google's Enterprise team in the Northeast, focusing on the enterprise business applications needs of large customers. Presented by the Pittsburgh Technology Council in partnership with Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney with support from Adhere Solutions from 7-9:15 a.m. at the Rivers Club. Cost: $45 Member/$175 Non-Member
July 27 – Wealth Attraction Secrets for the New Economy
This session will provide the most sought after wealth magnets that Dan Kennedy talks about in his book, No BS Wealth Attraction for the New Economy. Presented by Becky Gomes & Weston Lyon of Up a Notch Marketing from 5-7:00 p.m. at Sigmas Conference and Event Center, Upper Level - Room at end of hall, 1717 Babcock Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA, 15209. RSVP to Weston Lyon @ 412.974.0739 or weston@westonlyon.com. Cost: $97
August 4 – Shaping the Future: Breakfast Briefing featuring Carlos M. Cardoso, Chairman, President and CEO of Kennametal, Inc.
Carlos M. Cardoso, Chairman President and CEO of Kennametal Inc., will highlight how this premier tooling solutions provider is literally on the cutting-edge of technology and innovation by earning an average of 30 patents per year. Enjoying approximately $2 billion in sales, Kennametal's products are used in demanding environments cutting across countless industries, including coal mining, construction and automotive to name a few. Cardoso will share Kennametal's vision for the future and key strategies for continued global growth as the company does business in more than 60 countries with its 12,000 talented employees. Presented by the Pittsburgh Technology Council with support from Deloitte and The Hartford, the breakfast briefing is from 7-9:15 a.m. at the Rivers Club. Cost: $40 Member / $175 Non-Member
October 14 – Pennsylvania Governor's Conference for Women
With the theme "Your Time Is Now!" the Pennsylvania Governor's Conference for Women features nationally recognized speakers who will address the critical issues facing women today, helping attendees find clarity on goals and what is needed to accomplish them. More than 5,000 women are expected to attend this year's Conference. This exciting one-day event is the state's premiere networking and educational experience designed to engage, enlighten and empower women from across the state. Hosted by Governor Edward Rendell and the Pennsylvania Commission for Women from 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Cost: $135 General Seating / $1,250 Table of 10 / $250 Two-Person Combo / $65 Student (Prices valid through September 10, 2010 and will increase on September 11, 2010)
  
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