Center to be go-to spot for jobs, training at former arena site
People looking for work in the development of the former Civic Arena site soon will have a place to go.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and developer The Buccini Pollin Group are opening the Lower Hill First Source Employment Opportunity Center at the Hill House at 1835 Centre Ave.
Located on the first floor, the center will help residents looking for jobs, career training and exploration, resume building and other workforce development services related to the 28-acre former arena site, located in the lower Hill.
Other support available includes transportation assistance, help in securing pardons and referrals for social and pro bono legal services.
A grand opening is set for mid-May. The space is being leased for an initial two years from E Properties and Development, the owner and manager of the property.
The creation of the First Source Center is one of the commitments the Penguins and their development team made as part of a community benefits agreement known as community collaboration and implementation plan negotiated in 2014.
“The opening of the First Source Center is timed with our advancement of redevelopment on the lower Hill, which will bring thousands of construction jobs and thousands more permanent jobs to the city and the Hill District community,” Dorin Dickerson, the Penguins’ director of development and former Pitt and NFL star, said in a statement.
Among those helping to
launch and operate the center will be PJ Dick, Massaro Construction, Mascaro Construction, Partner4 Work, PA CareerLink, Builders Guild of Western PA, A. Phillip Randolph Institute, Community College of Allegheny County and Riverside Center for Innovation.
Massaro and TD Construction, a Hill-based minority contracting firm, are building out the space for the center. The Penguins and BPG also plan outreach efforts to inform Hill residents and others of the jobs available at the arena site.
The announcement comes as the Penguins and BPG prepare to brief the city planning commission Tuesday on the longawaited first redevelopment at the former arena site — construction of a $230 million, 26-story office tower that will be the headquarters of First National Bank.
They are hoping to start construction this summer and have it finished by the end of 2023.
Overall, the $1 billion former arena redevelopment is expected to feature 1 million square feet of office, up to 1,000 residential units, 190,000 square feet of retail, a hotel, a food hall, an 850-space parking garage and an indoor-outdoor music venue operated by Live Nation.