Peduto talks up $3 billion vision for Pittsburgh
Goals include housing, job training and more
From affordable housing to job training, it’s going to cost some $3 billion for Pittsburgh to accomplish a broad range of tentative community goals over the next 12 years, Mayor Bill Peduto said Friday.
The city already has $1.4 billion lined up through government entities and other sources funneled through the government. Now it needs the rest, Mr. Peduto said, revealing financial targets for a longexpected partnership involving the corporate, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.
“As we see part of the city taking off, we also see part of the city being left behind,” Mr. Peduto said after a presentation at the Energy Innovation Center in Crawford-Roberts. “To get people opportunity to be a part of it, it will cost us $3 billion on top of everything we’re already doing as a city government.”
About 120 people, including business representatives and nonprofit leaders, turned out for the gathering, where Mr. Peduto reviewed his vision for a social-benefits fund like those in New York and Los Angeles. The concept is for a legal entity that combines a variety of private and public money, putting it toward efforts that support the public good.
In Pittsburgh’s case, those efforts would generally follow the OnePGH Resilience Strategy, which emphasizes health, housing and transportation. Mr. Peduto said several working groups identified the tentative priorities for the fund, such as the replacement of lead water pipes, plus a few hundred apprenticeships and universal access to pre-kindergarten education.
A more solidified plan should be ready for public input in a couple of months, according to the Peduto administration. The mayor said he wants to have the new entity —
however it takes shape — implemented this year.
Meanwhile, attendees at the Friday session contemplated models for oversight and accountability, and how to prioritize investments. Major nonprofit employers such as UPMC, the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University are among those that have signaled a willingness to pitch in.
The administration has worked for several years to hammer out future financial commitments from large nonprofits. Mr. Peduto said corporate and foundation officials are showing interest, too.
At Downtown-based Highmark Health, spokesman Aaron Billger said the company values its relationship with the city. It had a presence at the Friday event.
“We will continue to work with the city and Mayor Peduto, along with other leading corporate partners in the area, to support our community’s continued vitality,” Mr. Billger said in a statement.
Adam Smeltz: 412-2632625, asmeltz@post-gazette.com, @asmeltz.