Pittsburgh is at the center of infrastructure, innovation

It makes sense that President Joe Biden selected our region for the announcement of his infrastructure plan. Pittsburgh can play a central role in bringing his vision to life because it sits at the nexus of manufacturing, infrastructure, tech, robotics, energy innovation and more.

Our region is primed for investment. We have the assets — both physical and intellectual – the partnerships and workforce, and the ready-to-go deferred maintenance and transformational projects.

Our world-class universities anchor a robust innovation ecosystem, and the region is home to assets such as Pittsburgh International Airport — positioned to be an industry-leading example of what a post-pandemic airport looks like and one that’s fully powered by a micro-grid utilizing natural gas and solar.

There’s also Neighborhood 91, the world’s first endto-end additive manufacturing production campus, Hazelwood Green — an urban brownfield transformed into an innovation center — and more.

We have a proven history of effective public-private collaboration. Our corporateuniversity partnerships drive innovation and economic competitiveness, and business and labor here are unified in support of a robust infrastructure package.

Perhaps most important, we have transformative, ready-to-go projects that can create tangible outcomes in the form of new modes of transportation, a low carbon future and next-generation economy jobs and investment.

Consider Freight 2030, a Freight Rail Institute that can transform the rail industry by accelerating innovative technologies and driving a higher share of modern transportation while stimulating jobs.

We look forward to working with public and private partners to support a bipartisan package that will advance our region and nation.

MATT SMITH

President Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce Downtown