The Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Coalition is one of 60 finalists that the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has selected to compete for financing under its $1 billion “Build Back Better Regional Challenge.” The finalists, chosen from among 529 applicants, each will receive a $500,000 planning grant to advance its proposal.
The Consortium is honored to be a partner in the regional coalition, a public-private partnership led by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. Other partners include leaders from government, workforce development agencies, post-secondary education, businesses, research institutions, nonprofits, and community organizations.
The regional proposal aims to leverage regional strengths in advanced technologies including Artificial Intelligence and robotics to stimulate economic development across the region.
“We believe that these have the potential to create and spread opportunity, jobs, and prosperity for all across every part of the 10-county footprint, which will accelerate post-pandemic economic recovery efforts,” the Allegheny Conference’s Chief Executive, Stefani Pashman, said in a news release.
The overall goal in the EDA’s “marquee initiative” under the federal American Rescue Plan is to stimulate economic recovery from the pandemic.
