Finally it is here. After 365 days, 2014, a new year is upon us. For the city of Pittsburgh a new year brings a change in Mayor and the administration. Reorganization is also in place for a city group well known for its intermediary services while excitement is building for other non-profit organizations for the year ahead.
Monday, Jan. 6 marked a new era in Pittsburgh. Mayor Bill Peduto was sworn in and seven fresh administrators are in place to take the city in a different direction. Using policies to address neighborhood development and jobs, government reform and innovation, education and technology and a ways to keep city neighborhoods clean and safe is the direction the Mayor is leaning toward.
After 30 years of functioning as an intermediary or clearinghouse between funders and Community Development Corporations, the Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development is transforming itself into a new group labeled as Neighborhood Allies. Throughout the years PPND has been known for providing capital for local community development efforts, vision, strategy and providing assistance in technical and training assistance to the system as well as financial operating support. As a way to rethink how community development services are communicated, delivered, and distributed, Neighborhood Allies is being launched to mirror the modifications which communities in Pittsburgh are currently undergoing.
The search team, Nonprofit Talent indicates that the mission of Neighborhood Allies will be to support the people, organizations and partnerships committed to creating and maintaining thriving neighborhoods. The goal is for the group to carry an annual budget of approximately $2.5 million. According to the executive director job description, a board of six people is in place as well as two staff members.
Another one of the area’s long time community organizations, the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group is looking forward to 2014. In the midst of planning their fourth annual Community Development Summit scheduled for May 14 through 15, 400 to 500 people from the region are expected to participate. Describing partakers as community and economic development professionals, lenders, public officials, developers, and planners, Katie Hale, PCRG neighborhood policy manager says the participants carry a passion about building and sustaining healthy, vibrant, and sustainable communities. Excited about the possibilities of the summit themed, Reaching Across Boundaries, she said sessions and workshops will highlight cross-sector and regional collaboration in community planning, land recycling, affordable housing, transit-oriented development, and neighborhood revitalization.
A collaboration between PCGR and the Urban Land Institute—Pittsburgh District Council, according to Hale the Summit will feature nationally renowned, keynote speakers, workshops and panels on topics built around the policies, programs, and practices that help make vibrant, healthy and complete communities; mobile workshops highlighting revitalization efforts throughout Greater Pittsburgh will occur and built-in networking time to reconnect with and meet innovative practitioners in the field from across the country will include a reception, and the annual member meeting and awards ceremony honoring community leaders.
Ideas for sessions and mobile workshops are still being sought. Proposals are due to the PCRG office by Jan. 31. Sponsorship opportunities are also still available. For information the website is: https://www.pcrg.org/conference/.
Organized in 1988, PCRG is a nonprofit advocating for smart, equitable policies and adequate resources to build vibrant and strong urban neighborhoods. It is a coalition of community leaders working for economic justice, equitable investment practices and sufficient financial resources to revitalize communities throughout Allegheny County. According to its website, the group brings community groups, financial institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies together to collaborate in the revitalization of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods. PCRG provides services to protect homeowners from predatory lending, advocate for reinvestment in Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods, assist community groups in the revitalization of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods, and report on lending practices in the region.
Regional business development groups, Christian Evangelistic Economic Development, the Micro- Business Institute at Pittsburgh Community Services, Inc., Urban Innovation21 and the Women Empowered for Entrepreneurial Excellence view 2014 in a positive light. “We are excited about the future of entrepreneurship,” said Alice Williams, executive director of WEEE.” “This region is changing and ripe for growth and the development of businesses.”
Concurring, Rufus Idris of CEED, Danielle Davis of the MBI and William Generett of Urban Innovation21 point out that they look forward to client growth and development and collaborating with one another to assist in the economic growth of the region.
Still reaping results from the groups’ August trade mission to Osun State, Nigeria Idris defines the trip as a commanding success. From the non-profit groups and businesses that participated in the excursion he reports that over 110 appointments took place, four Memorandums of Understanding were signed and 20 potential private projects and about six government projects are in the works.
Along with CEED, area organizations and businesses involved in the trip included the Manchester Bidwell Training Center, the Kingsley Association, the Braddock Pot Shop; a ceramic-water filter factory, Carnegie Mellon and Point Park Universities, the International Fashion House, M.O.K.A. Gallery, Africa Yetu and DID and Associates.
Other projects initiated from the trade mission include: establishment of a workforce training facility modeled after the world acclaimed U.S. based Manchester Bidwell Corporation, a ceramic water filter production facility using sawdust and clay, partnership with the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University to establish a regional hub for ICT/software developer certification and public policy/leadership training center, and an energy saving and LED lighting investment to use 98 percent local workforce in the production, assembly, installation and distribution of LED products.
A relationship between Africa Yetu, a local cultural hub, building bridges between the African Nations and American communities working to unite people through the arts, education, tourism and social networks as well as the International Fashion House; a business cooperative of underserved and disadvantaged sewers using quality and authentic world fabrics for custom-made, stylish and wearable apparel, fashion accessories, bedding, tablecloths, napkins, curtains, uniforms and medical scrubs that meet local, national, and international demand with Nigerian native Jemiriye Adeniji. Adeniji, an artist and entrepreneur for several months has been working with Africa Yetu and the IFA providing entertainment and conducting artistic workshops.
Business development trainings, forums dealing with topics related to environmental issues, energy, and economic wealth, and collaborative community events is the 2014 focus of the MBI. Designed to augment business ownership for underserved disadvantaged entrepreneur-type clients the group, according to Davis, is dedicated to fostering the development of sustainable micro-businesses which will stimulate economic development, self-sufficiency, and job creation in poverty-stricken neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Enhancing its services from previous years, Davis outlined that Tuesday morning business trainings will consist of the “Entrepreneur Development Model.” Using a holistic approach to assisting participants in their self-employment pursuits the curriculum is combined with the “Core Four: Business Planning Course” for its training.
Tuesday afternoons, the MBI sponsors Green Talk Tuesday Forums which are designed to create an atmosphere for learning and networking, where community members discuss economic wealth and sustainability. January 14 an open house will take place at the Environment and Energy Community Outreach Center at the intersection of East Liberty Boulevard and Larimer Avenue. March 26 in collaboration with the Urban Green Growth Collaborative, held at The Kingsley Association the MBI will sponsor a workshop titled “Meet Your Local Businesses.”
After a successful couple of years of sponsoring grant competitions, first in the Hill District and then Homewood, Urban Innovation21 in 2014 has plans to host a second round in both communities. Generett described the Hill District Small Business Grant Competition as an initiative aimed at promoting business development in the Hill District by providing business guidance and capital and outlined the goals for the Homewood business grant competition as a way to increase the number of new start-up businesses in Homewood; to provide small grants to successful existing businesses to help them grow; to connect Homewood businesses to existing sources of financing; to recruit other organizations to provide resources and services that will create successful businesses owned by Homewood residents; to increase awareness of and get more Homewood based businesses to use the services of existing business service providers and assist the Homewood community to become connected to the city’s successful new economy.
Considered a public-private partnership that boosts regional economic development through 21st century innovation-driven entrepreneurship, Urban Innovation21 for the year also has plans to continue strengthening the businesses they have relationships with and to work with those willing to spur entrepreneurship in our region.
Focused on developing women entrepreneurs, Williams describes one of WEEEs’ goals as to boost the economic status and development of women who have been ignored or underserved by traditional business development organizations and banking institutions by providing business incubation during the start-up phase when businesses are most vulnerable.
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