RAD funds the Pittsburgh Symphony, it also funds 200 libraries, the Zoo, the Aviary, county and Pittsburgh parks, mass transit, and provides operating grants to musical, theatrical and arts organizations throughout the county.
And it not only supports diversity, it demands it.
“We require all our applicants to have a diversity plan and an accessibility plan,” said Hudik. That’s our requirement, beyond the requirements of the legislation that created RAD back 20 years ago. We want to know about the minority makeup of your board and staff.”
And because the support grants RAD makes are all taxpayer dollars—half of the 1-percent county sales tax—the application process is entirely transparent.
“Any organization asking us for money has to come before the board and make their pitch. The press is there. It’s all public,” he said. “We have to give some of them the buzzer, and some we have to hook off the stage.”
Organizations begin submitting applications in June for the mid-July deadline. They make their public pitches, usually in august, and the board then makes its preliminary funding suggestions in the fall. Those are followed by a public comment period, after which the board makes its final decisions.
According to some of the figures from RAD’s just released 2015 annual report, last year those decisions resulted in more than 23 million people attending RAD-funded events, with 585,000 of them receiving free tickets.
Its funding also resulted in $753 million in direct spending and helped keep more than 9,000 people employed. Rad funding also helped leverage millions more in bond financing. Its budget was $96 million.
In her closing remarks, chamber President and CEO Doris Carson Williams thanked Hudik, noting they are neighbors in the Koppers building. She also thanked those who attended last month’s mixers and the Chamber’s Annual Meeting and Luncheon.
She also welcomed new members and reminded members the chamber will be marching in the city’s 200th Anniversary parade July 19, and will have a special breakfast meeting July 22. Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce President Matt Smith will be the speaker.
(Send comments to cmorrow@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
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