Downtown Pittsburgh
Located in the heart of the city at the confluence of the three rivers, the Downtown neighborhood is Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle. Here, Pittsburgh’s iconic skyline views have inspired business leaders for generations and is home to the region’s most innovative and creative business executives.
What’s the attraction? For many, it’s the energy of urban life and a revitalized locally-owned small business scene. Being in Downtown Pittsburgh is unlike anywhere else in the city. From historic architecture and world-class amenities to unparalleled transit services and unrivaled views, it’s all right here in Downtown.
Imagine this…instead of being stuck in traffic, your commute to work is just a short walk. Along the way, you stop at your favorite coffee shop or bakery. At lunch, you stroll through the farmers market, and on the way home you enjoy live music at a happy hour at that new neighborhood hot spot.
Young professionals, empty-nesters, families: they’re all calling Downtown Pittsburgh home. In the past ten years, thanks to collaborative efforts to increase development and re-energize the neighborhood, Downtown’s population has grown by more than 31% to an estimated 15,860.
As one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the city, living and working in Downtown Pittsburgh means worrying less about how you’ll get around and more time enjoying the things you love. A 25-minute walk gets you easily across the Golden Triangle and into the North Shore or the Strip District and beyond. Riding the Port Authority’s light rail free fare zone, 20 Healthy Ride bike share stations, and seamless connections to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail means you can connect to plenty of places car-free.
Culture and entertainment? We’ve got that, too. 11 world-class theaters, 150 retailers, and 315 restaurants await outside your front door. And, did you know that there is more live music in Downtown Pittsburgh than any other neighborhood in the city? We’re working with cultural partners around the region to cultivate a vibrant music scene right here in Downtown. In 2018 alone, we tracked over 2,800 live performances, ranging from the world-renowned Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to free outdoor concerts at weekly summer Night Markets in Market Square along with a growing number of bars and restaurants providing live entertainment on a regular basis.
Is sports more your thing? Downtown is home to Heinz Field, PPG Paints Arena, and PNC Park for professional football, hockey, and baseball, which means no more game day parking costs or being stuck in traffic when the game lets out. And, you can’t forget about Highmark Stadium, which is home to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, a nationally-ranked soccer team right in our South Shore.
Looking to escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy time outdoors? Downtown residents know how easy that can be. Only in Downtown do you get to call Point State Park your backyard. Historically significant and breathtakingly beautiful, one of Pittsburgh’s most iconic parks can be right down the street from your rooftop deck that overlooks Pirates games at PNC Park or fireworks on Light Up Night®. And, with over 45 acres of green space and 25 miles of beautifully restored riverfront, it’s easy to escape when you need to and take in the great outdoors.
Living in Downtown means living in a neighborhood that Pittsburgh is invested in. In the past decade, investment in our neighborhood has exceeded $8.7 billion. New investment means a new $60 million Pittsburgh Playhouse on Forbes Avenue to catch groundbreaking productions from Point Park University, a nationally-recognized university that calls Downtown home. All this investment also means more options for you. Luxury condos in newly constructed skyscrapers or apartments with modern amenities built into historic architecture on the riverfront? The choice is yours in Downtown.
That’s not to mention the numerous businesses and organizations that like being among the best and brightest of the city; everything from corporate and financial powerhouses to up-and-coming creative firms are making their names in Downtown. In our neighborhood, businesses are discovering what it means to have the benefits of being centrally located with the unique assets that only a city center can provide. When in Downtown, you’re connecting with over 115,000 other forward-thinking and driven professionals and employees on a daily basis.
There’s an incredible energy in Downtown Pittsburgh that more and more people and companies are realizing when they make the choice to move into the center of it all. We’re proud to be a part of our neighborhood’s thriving next chapter, and invite you to join us in discovering all there is to making your home in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Jeremy Waldrup
President and CEO
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
COUNTY FACTS
- 2018 Population: 301,048
- Total Number of Municipalities: 90
- Land Area (sq. mi.): 55.4
- 2018 Population Density (people per mile): 5,434.1
- 2018 Total number of employers: —
- Total jobs in county: 317,826
- 2017 Total labor force: 156,476
- 2018 Total employed residents: 149,949
- Earnings per job (mean): $70,131
– 2018 Median household income: $44,092
– 2017 Persons below the poverty line: 20.6% - 2017 – 2018 Public High School Graduates: 1,710
– Post-secondary placement rate: 45.0% - Population 25 and over: 205,498
– with high school degree or higher: 92.1%
– with bachelor’s degree or higher: 41.9%
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, PA Department of Education, PA Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Largest Municipality:
Squirrel Hill: Pop 27,127
Additional Municipalities:
Brookline
Carrick
Highland Park
Oakland
Point Breeze
Shadyside
Southside
Economic Development Contact:
Diamonte Walker, Deputy Executive Director
The Urban Redevelopment , Authority of Pittsburgh
200 Ross St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412-255-6600
Fax: 412-255-6617
Mayor of City:
The Honorable William Peduto
City of Pittsburgh
City-County Building, Room 512
414 Grant St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412.255.2626
Fax: 412.255.2687
Top Private Employers
Employer: UPMC Health System
Product(s): Health Care
Employees: 27,600
Employer: Highmark Health
Product(s): Health Care and Insurance
Employees: 13,800
Employer: University of Pittsburgh
Product(s): Higher Education
Employees: 11,900
Employer: PNC Financial Services Group.
Product(s): Financial Services
Employees: 9,500
Employer: BNY Mellon Corp.
Product(s): Financial Services
Employees: 7,000
Employer: Carnegie Mellon University
Product(s): Higher Education
Employees: 6,100
Employer: U.S. Steel
Product(s): Steel Manufacturing
Employees: 4,100
Employer: Verizon Communications, Inc.
Product(s): Telecommunications
Employees: 2,300
Employer: Duquesne University
Product(s): Higher Education
Employees: 2,200
Employer: Rivers Casino
Product(s): Entertainment
Employees: 1,600
Sources: Pittsburgh Business Times 2019 Book of Lists, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
www.pittsburghpa.gov
Allegheny County
Allegheny County’s focus on job creation and economic development is evident each day. This region has reinvented itself, and for the first time since the end of our industrial era, we’re seeing tremendous growth and are well-positioned for the future … but don’t take our word for it.
Citing the county’s strong economy, expanding employment base, stability, and likelihood for continued improvement, among other factors, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded our bond rating last year for the fifth time in the past six years, putting us at our highest level in 36 years. That’s allowing us to better invest in projects and services that improve our quality of life and attract residents and businesses.
We’ve become a land of opportunity. The region’s unemployment rate recently fell to the lowest mark recorded by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry since it began tracking jobless numbers in 1976. And the jobs here are paying well, too. Over the past three years, wages and median household income in the region have grown at nearly double the rate than they have nationally. Our economy is so strong, in fact, that job search website Glassdoor ranked us as the top area in the country to find employment, and financial website WalletHub picked us as the second-best place in the nation to start a career.
Our young people are taking advantage of that economy thanks in part to this area’s 78 colleges and universities. Each year, thousands of students from more than 100 different countries are drawn here to receive an exceptional education. The Community College of Allegheny County is one of the local institutions giving students the tools and skills required to succeed. Its expert faculty are leading innovative programs designed to ensure that students can meet 21st-century workforce demands.
Annually, our local colleges and universities graduate more than 45,000 young people, allowing our businesses to draw from a huge talent pool. That’s helped our region become a leader in a diverse number of industries, including health care, finance, manufacturing, arts and culture, as well as emerging sectors, such as robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and clean energy. We’re also known as a great place for entrepreneurs. CityMart, a consulting organization that helps cities find ways to innovate, named this area as the best in the country to launch a small business, and online marketplace LendingTree ranked us as the eight-best place in the U.S. for minority business owners.
This region’s affordability makes it easier for those entrepreneurs to get started or simply buy a house and raise a family. According to real estate website Zillow, the median price of homes in Allegheny County is $155,600 compared to the national average of $234,400, and the median rent here is $1,200 compared to $1,750 nationally. Online publication Livability and financial services company Bankrate each chose this area as the best in the country for first-time homeowners, and LendingTree says we’re the second-most popular place in the nation for millennial homebuyers. Additionally, according to data from the Council for Community and Economic Research, we have the fifth-lowest cost of living among the country’s 50 largest metro areas.
We’re a great location, too. Over 50% of the U.S. buying income is within an eight-hour drive, and 70% of the U.S. population is within a 90-minute flight of Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). And you can get there from here. Travel + Leisure magazine ranked PIT as the seventh-best airport in the country – and that’s before it undergoes a planned $1.1 billion renovation. It offers nonstop flights to more than 60 destinations, almost double the number from just four years ago, and that includes new nonstop service to London on British Airways. Public transportation is also popular here, with our Port Authority bucking national trends by increasing ridership to 64.2 million last year on its buses and light-rail system.
Those traveling on our public transit have plenty of places to visit. We boast world-class museums and attractions, a vibrant arts scene, award-winning restaurants, affordable shopping, numerous hiking and biking opportunities, more than 15,000 acres of park space, as well as high-profile sporting events, concerts, and other performances. Those amenities and our diverse and welcoming communities have provided us with an exceptional quality of life. In fact, Livability ranked us No. 8 on its list of top 100 places to live in America.
We’ve undergone an extraordinary renaissance, and that wouldn’t have been possible without this region doing what it does best – working together. Through collaboration, we expect to create more jobs and development here and, in turn, attract more residents and businesses. But we’re not counting on that progress coming easy. As we’ve always done, we’re rolling up sleeves and working hard toward making Allegheny County an even better place to live, work, and play.
Rich Fitzgerald
Allegheny County Chief Executive
COUNTY FACTS
- 2015 Population: 1,223,048
- Total Number of Municipalities: 130
- County Seat: Pittsburgh
- Land Area (sq. mi.): 730.1
- 2017 Population Density (people per mile): 1,675.2
- 2017 Total number of employers: 35,293
- 2017 Total jobs in county: 694,921
- 2017 Total labor force: 645,906
- 2017 Total employed residents: 615,193
- 2017 Earnings per job (mean): $58,904
– 2017 Median household income: $58,625
– 2016 Persons below the poverty line: 12.7% - 2016 – 2017 Public High School Graduates: 10,869
– Post-secondary placement rate: 75.4% - 2017 Population 25 and over: 882,168
– with high school degree or higher: 93.9%
– with bachelor’s degree or higher: 39.1%
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, PA Department of Education, PA Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Largest Municipality:
Pittsburgh: Pop 302,407
Additional Municipalities:
Bethel Park
McKeesport
Monroeville
Mt. Lebanon
Penn Hills
Plum Borough
Ross Township
Shaler
Economic Development Contact:
Allegheny County Economic Development
One Chatham Center
112 Washington Place, Suite 900
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412.350.1000
Fax: 412.471.1032
County Chief Executive:
The Honorable Rich Fitzgerald
Allegheny County
101 County Courthouse
436 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412.350.6500
Fax: 412.350.6512
Top Private Employers
Employer: UPMC Health System
Product(s): Health Care and Insurance
Employees: 46,500
Employer: Highmark Health
Product(s): Health Care and Insurance
Employees: 20,875
Employer: University of Pittsburgh
Product(s): Higher Education
Employees: 11,996
Employer: PNC Financial Services Group.
Product(s): Financial Services
Employees: 11,432
Employer: Giant Eagle
Product(s): Retail
Employees: 10,674
Employer: BNY Mellon Corp.
Product(s): Financial Services
Employees: 7,000
Employer: Carnegie Mellon University
Product(s): Higher Education
Employees: 4,754
Employer: FedEx Corp.
Product(s): Transportation
Employees: 4,500
Employer: U.S. Steel Corporation
Product(s): Steel Manufacturing
Employees: 4,200
Employer: Verizon Communications, Inc.
Product(s): Telecommunications
Employees: 3,300
Sources: Pittsburgh Business Times 2016-2017 Book of Lists, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
www.co.allegheny.pa.us
Beaver County
Over the last several years, no county in southWestern Pennsylvania has seen a transformation quite like Beaver County. With the announcement and ongoing construction of Shell Polymers’ multibillion-dollar polyethylene manufacturing facility, unprecedented growth and opportunity abounds in Beaver County. The beauty is that Beaver County continues to retain its wonderful sense of place and neighbor helping neighbor attitude toward building a bright future for our diverse community.
From our farmlands and parks to our legacy riverfront communities and bustling townships, Beaver County aspires to be part of a region that provides the best environment in which one can live, work, do business, and raise a family. Our diverse economy has had remarkable growth, including opportunities in education, healthcare, energy and advanced manufacturing, finance, retail and hospitality.
With low taxes and affordable housing, Beaver County has become attractive for young families starting a family to baby boomers downsizing and easing into retirement. Coupled with the beauty of our miles of Beaver and Ohio Rivers that cut through our landscape, is a wonderful quality of life that unites Beaver Countians. Beaver County has a unique small-town feel that makes you feel at home no matter where you find yourself among our 53 municipalities. We have a lifestyle pace that matches everyone’s stride.
The collaborative small-town feel is highlighted by a historic partnership among our institutions of higher learning. The leaders of the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC), Geneva College, Penn State University – Beaver Campus, and Robert Morris University (RMU) have formed something called the Bridges and Pathways College Partnership. The four institutions share articulation agreements, curriculum and cultural exchanges. There is also a scholarship fund being established to provide post-secondary educational opportunity for those youth needing assistance in pursuing the career credential pathways necessary in today’s economy.
Also unique is CCBC’s High School Academy program which was the recent recipient of the Carnegie Science Center’s Leadership in STEM Education Award. High school students enrolled in the program can earn college credits and a career-oriented education in the fields of Aviation, Health, STEM, Criminal Justice and Construction. Juniors and seniors participate in this innovative dual enrollment program and graduate with one year of credits toward a CCBC associates degree or programs at other colleges and universities. A great, affordable option for our youth who will become the future employees, business owners, and community leaders of our region.
Nothing has been more instrumental in defining and developing Beaver County than our rivers. It is our rivers that unite us people and geographically defined us. The twists and turns of the Beaver River to the north, and the Ohio River that traverses through the heart of the County, formed the opportunity for industry and commerce to establish itself. Likewise, the population density follows those riverfront paths. But unlike the past, the rivers are much more to us that the industrial highway of years gone by.
New initiatives to ensure the beauty and value of our riverfronts are taking place across many communities. There is a new grassroots engagement of community members creating eco-districts among our river towns. RiverWise is a remarkable engagement of diverse groups coming together to collaborate on our future.
The county is already host to many recreational and entertainment opportunities. From Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center to Pittsburgh International Raceway to Brady’s Run Park to our many historical sites. There is truly something for everyone in the rich tradition and history of Beaver County.
Jack Manning, Past President
Beaver County Chamber of Commerce
COUNTY FACTS
- 2017 Population: 168,871
- Total Number of Municipalities: 53
- County Seat: Beaver
- Land Area (sq. mi.): 434.7
- 2017 Population Density (people per mile): 382.2
- 2017 Total number of employers: 3,659
- 2017 Total jobs in county: 51,269
- 2017 Total labor force: 84,912
- 2017 Total employed residents: 80,204
- 2017 Earnings per job (mean): $43,894
– 2017 Median household income: $54,923
– 2017 Persons below the poverty line: 10.8% - 2016 – 2017 Public HighSchool Graduates: 2,942
– Post-secondary placement rate: 66.9% - 2017 Population 25 and over: 122,504
– with high school degree or higher: 91.9%
– with bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.4%
Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis, PA Department of Education, PA Department of Labor & Industry, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Largest Municipality:
Hopewell Township: Pop 12,696
Additional Municipalities:
Aliquippa
Ambridge
Beaver Falls
Center Township
Economic Development Contact:
Lewis Villotti, President
Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development
250 Insurance St., Suite 300
Beaver, PA 15009
Phone: 724.728.8610
Fax: 724.728.3666
Beaver County Board of Commissioners:
The Honorable Daneil C. Camp III, Chair
The Honorable Sandie Egley
The Honorable Tony Amadio
Beaver County Courthouse
810 Third St., Beaver, PA 15009
Phone: 724.728.5700
Fax: 724.728.0725
Top Private Employers
Employer: Heritage Valley Health System
Product(s): Health Care
Employees: 2,200
Employer: First Energy Corp
Product(s): Electric Power Distribution
Employees: 1,300
Employer: Giant Eagle
Product(s): Retail
Employees: 1,150
Employer: Norfolk Southern Corp.
Product(s): Rail Services
Employees: 1,100
Employer: Wal-Mart Stores
Product(s): Retail
Employees: 900
Employer: TMK IPSCO Steel
Product(s): Manufacturing
Employees: 700
Employer: Friendship Ridge
Product(s): Elder Care
Employees: 560
Employer: McCarl’s Inc
Product(s): Construction
Employees: 500
Employer: Mailing Services of Pittsburgh Inc.
Product(s): Direct Mail
Employees: 500
Employer: Geneva College
Product(s): Education
Employees: 427
Sources: Pittsburgh Business Times 2016-2017 Book of Lists, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
www.co.beaver.pa.us
Butler County
Butler County is the perfect mix of suburbia, farmlands, shopping and recreational activities, quaint towns and villages and international corporations and family owned small businesses.
Did you know that Butler County is located within 500 miles of 50% of the entire population of the US? The county features access to Interstates 76 and 79 in the south and access to Interstate 80 in the north. Butler County also accesses Route 28 on the east with Route 8 running north to south and Route 422 crossing the county from the west to the east. With access to these highways Butler County is a prime location for industries that need to transport their goods to other destinations in a timely manner.
County officials launched the Butler County Growth Collaborative in March of 2019. The collaborative’s goal is to showcase Butler County to prospective businesses and residents with a unified voice. “The county and its organizations have quite a few strengths,” commented Community Development Corporation of Butler County Executive Director Joe Saeler. “Our goal is to speak with one voice, eliminate the duplication of services and provide businesses with the information they need in a timely and efficient manner.”
Butler County’s diversity in business and industry is also well noted. AK Steel, Butler Health System, Slippery Rock University and Iron Mountain are among the county’s largest employers. The Iron Mountain underground storage facility located in Boyers houses a variety of historical documents as well as the data centers for many Fortune 500 companies and employs more than 1,000. Careers in manufacturing, health care, higher education and the hospitality industry provide opportunities for all ages and all educational levels.
Penn United Technologies and their subsidiary Cabot Guns as well Oberg Industries, Butler Technologies and Cygnus Manufacturing Corporation are just a few of the manufacturers that call Butler County home. These and other manufacturers continue to provide family sustaining wages to their employees, and this also contributes to the county’s continued growth.
Education is also a staple in Butler County. The Butler County Area Vocational Technical School provides technical training for students from the county’s seven school district. Many of these graduates obtain employment immediately after graduation in a variety of careers that are in high demand. In addition, Butler County is one of only two counties in the state that has both a community college and a state university. Butler County Community College (BC3) has been named the State’s top community college for three consecutive years by www.schools.com and continues to provide an affordable option for those looking to obtain an Associate degree or work force related skills. For those seeking a four year or master’s degree, Slippery Rock University, which is located in the northern portion of the county, is a viable option as they have recently added degrees in mechanical, civil and petroleum engineering.
Those looking for recreational activities have plenty of choices within the county. The UPMC Lemieux Complex in Cranberry Township is the primary practice and training facility for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The facility also hosts a variety of hockey tournaments for college prospects and offers free skates for the public. The other portion of the facility houses the outpatient facilities for the UPMC Sports Medicine program.
If you are interested in outdoor activities Moraine State Park, which is at the intersection of I79 and Route 422, features a man-made lake (Lake Arthur), hiking and biking trails, picnic shelters and cabins for camping. Lake Arthur features two beaches that are open from Memorial Day through Labor Day for swimming. Boats up to 20hp are permitted on the lake and fishing and swimming are also permitted. The Regatta at Lake Arthur is held annually each August and during the winter months sledding and snowmobiling are popular activities at the park.
Festivals and craft shows are popular events in the towns and villages throughout Butler County regardless of the season. The Butler Fair and Butler Farm Show showcase the county’s agricultural and farming traditions while the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival celebrates Butler as the “birthplace of the Jeep.” The Penn’s Colony Festival takes place each September near Saxonburg and focuses on the French and Indian era. More than 185 craftsmen and artisans are featured each year. Additional information on these and other activities in the county are available at www.visitbutlercounty.com.
Butler County is also home to a variety of retail establishments and eateries. Large retailers such as Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Best Buy provide residents with the convenience of shopping close to home. In addition, restaurants, both chain and independently owned, provide county residents and visitors with the opportunity to enjoy a variety of food, spirits and craft beers.
As we begin a new decade in Butler County our residents, businesses and government officials are excited about the opportunities that await as we work towards our goal of making “Butler County even better” together.
Joe Saeler
Executive Director
Community Development Corporation of Butler County
COUNTY FACTS
- 2017 Population: 187,108
- Total Number of Municipalities: 57
- County Seat: Butler
- Land Area (sq. mi.): 788.6
- 2017 Population Density (people per mile): 237.3
- 2017 Total number of employers: 5,024
- 2017 Total jobs in county: 85,291
- 2017 Total labor force: 98,326
- 2017 Total employed residents: 93,801
- 2017 Earnings per job (mean): $50,148
– 2017 Median household income: $68,934
– 2016 Persons below the poverty line: 8.5% - 2016 – 2017 Public High School Graduates: 2,031
– Post-secondary placement rate: 81.1% - 2017 Population 25 and over: 124,603
– with high school degree or higher: 93.5%
– with bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.3%
Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis, PA Department of Education, PA Department of Labor & Industry, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Largest Municipality:
Cranberry Township: Pop 30,762
Additional Municipalities:
Adams Township
Buffalo Township
Butler City
Butler Township
Center Township
Slippery Rock Township
Economic Development Contact:
Joseph Saeler, Interim Director and Manager of Operations
Community Development Corporation of Butler County
112 Hollywood Drive, Suite 102
Butler, PA 16001
Phone: 724.283.1961
Fax: 724.283.3599
Butler County Board of Commissioners:
The Honorable Leslie Osche, Chair
The Honorable Kim Geyer
The Honorable Kevin Boozel
Butler County Government Center, Fifth Floor
124 West Diamond St., Butler, PA 16003
Phone: 724.284.5100
Top Private Employers
Employer: Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC
Product(s): Manufacturing
Employees: 3,400
Employer: Butler Health System
Product(s): Health Care
Employees: 1,900
Employer: AK Steel
Product(s): Manufacturing
Employees: 1,400
Employer: Concordia Lutheran Ministries
Product(s): Health Care
Employees: 1,400
Employer: Slippery Rock University
Product(s): Higher Education
Employees: 950
Employer: Arconic
Product(s): Windows
Employees: 900
Employer: Lutheran Senior Life
Product(s): Health Care
Employees: 900
Employer: Next Tier Concepts
Product(s): Business Services
Employees: 900
Employer: Manheim Pittsburgh
Product(s): Business Services
Employees: 800
Employer: MSA Safety
Product(s): Manufacturing
Employees: 800
Sources: Butler County Community Development Corporation, Pittsburgh Business Times, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
www.co.butler.pa.us
Fayette County
Nestled among the lush rolling hills in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania, Fayette County offers our residents and visitor alike a lifestyle that easily combines a superb and serene landscape of mountains, rivers and valleys – with easy access to major metropolitan areas.
Geography and landscape have played a major role in the shaping of the area. The majestic Allegheny Mountains, part of the Appalachian Chain, comprise nearly a third of the County’s 790 square miles. The ridges westward slopes end in rolling, fertile valleys. The waters and tributaries of the Youghiogheny and Monongahela Rivers define the landscape and provide natural routes to the east and west.
These resources of forest, land and water attracted settlement from the very earliest of times. Native tribes hunted and traveled these mountains and valleys (consider “these lands”). Pre-colonial pioneers came to trade and found a new land of great promise. First colonists and then newly independent American citizens arrived to carve out farms and villages (consider “came here – staking their claim and building farms and villages). With fertile land, transportation resources, and its strategic location, Fayette County first became a crossroads of business and commerce, and then an industrial powerhouse, as its coal and mineral resources were extracted and brought to market, fueling and building the Nation.
Today, that legacy remains. The County’s geographic location and stunning natural beauty, combined with its access to the mid Atlantic metropolitan markets and the urban communities of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland, make it an ideal place to live, work, play and prosper. The region, commonly known as the Laurel Highlands, is located within a 500 miles radius of over one half of the population of the United States and Canada, and offers its residents easy access (between a 3 and 4 hour drive) to major metropolitan resources and amenities. But the lifestyle is still a peaceful one – a place to live comfortably and raise a family, a place to find a quality of life that seems to have vanished from more urban communities.
Nestled among those same rolling hills today, are the new industries that are the dawning of a new era for our townships and municipalities. Natural gas wells and Marcellus Shale sites that are reaching deep below the surface to new mineral deposits, dot the landscape. Each well that is planned, organized and drilled brings with it the opportunity to enhance a growing business community, welcome new residents and provide good, family –sustaining jobs for our residents now and long into the future.
One of the newest Marcellus related companies that has recently established permanent roots in Fayette County is Calfrac Well Services. Calfrac has invested over $20 million in the development of a new complex at the Fayette Business Park which will serve as the hub for its tri-state area operations. Selected for its central location in the region, the site currently employees 342 people with an expectation of reaching 1,000 employees or higher in a few years. Calfrac is committed to becoming part of the Fayette County community and hiring local residents.
As a region, Pennsylvania’s southwestern corner has become the center of the Marcellus Shale industry attracting national and international investments. Fayette County boasts of several business parks that are home to companies like Williams, Valerus, GHX, BOS Solutions and many more. With an ever increasing demand for business sites, Fay-Penn, Fayette County’s economic development council, recently announced the construction of a new business park in Dunbar Township. Ground breaking was early 2013 on this new development area that will include 311 acres with some sites having rail access that will connect the companies to northeastern United States and Canada.
Fayette’s business community is growing ever stronger and adapting as necessary to meet the demands and needs of these new industries. Recently, the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce surveyed its 600 business members seeking reaction to the reforming economy in Fayette. In overwhelming numbers, the businesses responded in support of the Marcellus industry and gave a good overall view of the business atmosphere throughout the County. Having seen many peaks and valleys in the County’s economy over the last 50 years, it is wonderful to be standing on the precipice of solid, documentable economic growth.
Our businesses continue to stay and grow here for many reasons. One aspect of Fayette County’s offering cannot be understated – it’s recreational, historic and cultural assets and amenities. With easy access to the Great Allegheny Passage – a bike, hike trail that connects Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. through some of the most breathtaking scenery of our mountains and gorges, opportunity to traverse the Youghiogheny River’s Class III rapids in Ohiopyle State Park, a chance to experience the Frank Lloyd Wright amazing organic architectural designs of Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, step into history and the revolutions that defined this Nation at Fort Necessity National Battlefield and along the Historic National Road or enjoying the amenities at one of the spectacular resorts in the area, like the Five Diamond rated Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Just a taste of what Fayette County has to offer to families that are drawn to it by this new industry.
Even today, when the Marcellus Natural Gas industry stands welcome and ready to move forward as our leading industry, our gently rolling foothills and valleys provide, as they have for centuries, prime commercial, agricultural, and residential land as well as abundant natural resources. The County’s forests, game lands, parks and mountains provide some of the best four-season recreation anywhere in the eastern United States. Our long history and diverse ethnic heritage provide endlessly fascinating stories to uncover and treasure.
Fayette County is a unique and wonderful place because of its geography and history, its people and businesses, and above all, its determination to build for its future. We invite you to visit, and once you are here, you may come to stay. We hope you do.
COUNTY FACTS
- 2017 Population:131,504
- Total Number of Municipalities: 43
- County Seat: Uniontown
- Land Area (sq. mi.): 790.3
- 2017 Population Density (people per mile): 166.4
- 2017 Total number of employers: 2,839
- 2017 Total jobs in county: 39,108
- 2017 Total labor force: 57,811
- 2017 Total employed residents: 53,806
- 2017 Earnings per job (mean): $38,073
– 2017 Median household income: $44,184
– 2016 Persons below the poverty line: 18.6% - 2016 – 2017 Public High School Graduates: 1,165
– Post-secondary placement rate: 66.2% - 2017 Population 25 and over: 97,584
– with high school degree or higher: 87.4%
– with bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.7%
Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis, PA Department of Education, PA Department of Labor & Industry, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Largest Municipality:
Cranberry Township: Pop 12,240
Additional Municipalities:
Belle Vernon
Brownsville
Connellsville
Masontown
Point Marion
Uniontown
Economic Development Contact:
Bob Shark, Executive Director
Fay-Penn Economic Development Council
1040 Eberly Way, Suite 200
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
Phone: 724.437.7913
Fax: 724.437.7315
Fayette County Board of Commissioners:
The Honorable Vincent A Vicites, Chair
The Honorable Dave Lohr
The Honorable Angela Zimmerlink
Fayette County Courthouse
61 East Main Street
Uniontown, PA 15401
Phone: 724.430.1200
Fax: 724.430.1265
Top Private Employers
Employer: Uniontown Hospital
Product(s): Health Services
Employees: 1,200
Employer: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
Product(s): Resort
Employees: 1,000
Employer: Wal-Mart Stores
Product(s): Retail
Employees: 870
Employer: Teletech Holdings
Product(s): Call Center
Employees: 550
Employer: Lady Luck Casino
Product(s): Recreation
Employees: 420
Employer: Highlands Hospital
Product(s): Health Care
Employees: 400
Employer: Allegheny Energy Service Corp
Product(s): Energy
Employees: 380
Employer: CalFrac Well Services
Product(s): Natural Resources
Employees: 340
Employer: Brownsville Marine Products
Product(s): Barge Manufacturing
Employees: 320
Employer: Sensus USA
Product(s): Advanced Manufacturing
Employees: 300
Sources: Pittsburgh Business Times 2016-2017 Book of Lists, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
www.co.fayette.pa.us
Washington County
Washington County is known as the Energy Capital of the East because of our continued growth and leadership in natural gas and coal production. However, it has become clear that this energy is contagious, as evidenced by our strong and diverse economic growth, increasing population, and vibrant communities. Washington County is not only a great place to live and work, it is also a popular destination for those looking for entertainment, history, and adventure – The American Spirit Lives Here in Washington County.
Located in the heart of SouthWestern Pennsylvania, Washington County is conveniently situated and easily accessed by road, river, rail, trail, or air. Whether taking a short drive south from the City of Pittsburgh or Pittsburgh International Airport, west from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, north from West Virginia and points south, or landing at Washington County’s own regional airport, our modern and expansive transportation infrastructure has laid the groundwork for our continued growth.
As one of our region’s most historic counties and named for our country’s first president, Washington County connects our independent heritage with our proud manufacturing and industrial tradition to create exceptional employment, education, healthcare, recreation and entertainment opportunities – all while offering a strong sense of community, an enticing cost of living and extraordinary quality of life.
It is easy to share some of the impressive statistics that help tell our success story, such as how Washington was the only county in the Pittsburgh region to show positive results when comparing 2018 population estimates over the 2017 population estimates. In 2018 more than $560 million in capital investments were made in Washington County resulting in more than 700 jobs that were created or retained, and our energy and manufacturing sectors continue to lead the way. These industries have been bolstered by continued investments in development and transportation projects, driving the county’s strong economy in the first half of 2019.
A robust new housing market in the county is the result of the population trend with approval for more than 350 new single-family, townhomes and patio homes in the townships of Peters, North Strabane and South Strabane. In addition, a 127-unit complex for senior citizens is under construction in Peters Township. This new development will include homes for senior living and specialty care as well as on-site amenities such as a full-service restaurant, café, fitness studio, theater, community room and underground parking.
The energy sector, including coal, natural gas and power generation, remains the driver of Washington County’s strong economy. Rachel Gleason, executive director of Pennsylvania Coal Association, when discussing a report issued by the organization, commented that the coal industry in PA has been steadying and credited production of full extraction coal from CONSOL’s Pennsylvania Mining Complex in Washington and Greene Counties for helping to spark the rally. The CONSOL complex is the largest underground coal mining complex in North America.
Pennsylvania remains the second largest gas producing state in the country and according to Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office, Washington County ranks second in the state with 293.2 BCF of production in the first quarter of 2019. In addition, we host 1,655 of the state’s 9,500 producing gas wells – more than any other county in the state and will receive $8.4 million this year in impact fees paid by shale gas drillers, a 15% increase over last year.
But to understand why we are experiencing this growth and perhaps more importantly, why it will continue, it is important to share how it all has been possible. In a word, it is teamwork.
A true spirit of cooperation and possibility exists here. Our public and private partnerships are unrivaled, and the results speak for themselves. It is not a coincidence that capital flows to where it is treated best and there is no such thing as luck in economic development, rather great things happen when great planning meets opportunity.
From innovative and international brands like All-Clad and Pyrex to start-ups and small businesses, Washington County is home to many other growing and vital industries, such as tourism, which brings in over $700 million in direct visitor spending annually and supports nearly 6,000 jobs.
Washington County was thrilled to unveil a new tourism marketing campaign in 2019 entitled The American Spirit Lives Here. We have a great story to tell in Washington County, which is home to some of the country’s finest historical, entertainment and cultural attractions.
Our largest attraction is unique in our region, The Meadows Racetrack and Casino, offers both gaming and standardbred horse racing, not to mention an impressive menu of live entertainment, dining and nightlife, along with family-friendly activities, events and festivals.
Fortunately, that is just our leadoff hitter. We not only celebrate our proud history, we boast an impressive list of historical landmarks that connect visitors to times and events that span more than 19,000 years, which is something no other county in North America can match.
The American Spirit Lives Here campaign is a recognition of both the diversity and shared identity of our local tourism assets, like the Washington County Heritage Alliance, the Montour Trail Council, PONY Baseball and Softball, as well as attractions like The Meadows, Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum and our county’s agricultural fairs. These are just a handful among our many great partners, who together create the fabric of Washington County and collectively embody the American spirit throughout our county.
Washington County’s storied history is further celebrated annually during the Whiskey Rebellion Festival, which draws thousands of visitors to the streets and parks of Washington every July. One of the festival’s fan favorites is the street theater reenactment of the very infamous tarring and feathering of the local tax collector. This festival also highlights the current whiskey making renaissance happening in Washington County with new craft distilleries bringing this historical practice back to life with their own modern twists. Our whiskey heritage is further demonstrated by the county’s inclusion in the recently launched Whiskey Rebellion Trail, a multi-regional trail that celebrates the first chapter of American Whiskey. The trail includes 75 craft distilleries and cultural institutions in the greater Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Baltimore areas, showcasing the prolific and award-winning spirits producers of the Mid-Atlantic.
This marketing campaign tells that story and captures the essence of what it means to visit Washington County, leaving people with a positive sense of the many diverse opportunities our county holds. We have something for everyone – whether it is gaming at the casino; biking, kayaking and other outdoor recreation pursuits; shopping at the outlets and our many independent shops; or spending a weekend experiencing our unparalleled historical sites. Our attractions stretch, quite literally, from the dawn of humanity at the Meadowcroft Rockshelter, to the birth of our nation and the Whiskey Rebellion, all the way to the industrial revolution in the Mon Valley and the Trolley Museum – Washington County truly has it all.
There is so much to discover and explore, I invite you to share in our contagious energy and all that Washington County has to offer.
Jeff Kotula
President, Washington County Chamber of Commerce
COUNTY FACTS
- 2015 Population: 207,298
- Total Number of Municipalities: 66
- County Seat: Washington Pop: 13,500
- Land Area (sq. mi.): 857
- 2017 Population Density (people per mile): 241.9
- 2017 Total number of employers: 5,455
- 2017 Total jobs in county: 86,777
- 2017 Total labor force: 106,484
- 2017 Total employed residents: 100,896
- 2017 Earnings per job (mean): $56,331
– 2017 Median household income: $60,551
– 2016 Persons below the poverty line: 10.1% - 2016 – 2017 Public High School Graduates: 2,002
– Post-secondary placement rate: 73.7% - 2017 Population 25 and over: 148,496
– with high school degree or higher: 91.8%
– with bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.1%
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, PA Department of Education, PA Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
Largest Municipality:
Peters Township: Pop 22,021
Additional Municipalities:
City of Monongahela
Cecil Township
Canonsburg Borough
Charleroi Borough
North Strabane Township
South Strabane Township
Economic Development Contact:
Jeff Kotula, President
Washington County Chamber of Commerce
375 Southpointe Boulevard, Suite 240
Canonsburg, PA 15317
Phone: 724.225.3010
Fax: 724.228.7337
www.washcochamber.com
Washington County Board of Commissioners:
The Honorable Lawrence O. Maggi, Chair
The Honorable Harlan G. Shober
The Honorable Diana L. Irey Vaughan
Washington County
100 West Beau Street, Suite 702
Washington, PA 15301
Phone: 724.228.6724
Fax: 724.228.6965
www.co.washington.pa.us
Top Private Employers
Employer: Crown Castle
Product(s): Communications
Employees: 2,800
Employer: Washington Health System
Product(s): Health Care
Employees: 2,032
Employer: Monongahela Valley Hospital
Product(s): Health Care
Employees: 1,375
Employer: The Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Product(s): Entertainment
Employees: 1,235
Employer: California University of Pennsylvania
Product(s): Higher Education
Employees: 818
Employer: CONSOL Energy
Product(s): Telecommunications
Employees: 695
Employer: Ansys
Product(s): Software Development
Employees: 535
Employer: The Perryman Company
Product(s): Manufacturing
Employees: 525
Employer: Mylan
Product(s): Pharmaceuticals
Employees: 500
Employer: Canonsburg General Hospital
Product(s): Health Care
Employees: 475
Source: Pittsburgh Business Times, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, Washington County Chamber of Commerce – Updated: 7.31.2019
www.co.washington.pa.us
Westmoreland County
Fred Rogers is experiencing a popularity resurgence of late. With a biopic starring Tom Hanks due out in October 2019 and a region-wide celebration of his 50 plus years of impact on children and communities, it’s no wonder. He’s oft-quoted in saying, “One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation.” It is from this spirit of investing, raising and preparing a new generation of families, individuals and businesses that Reimagining Our Westmoreland was conceived.
Much has changed about Westmoreland County since its native Mr. Rogers left the air in 2001. But, many things remain the same; a commitment to the community among its residents and leaders, its successful school districts, high quality and affordable way of life, safe neighborhoods, and location between Pittsburgh and the foothills of the Alleghenies.
In our not-so-distant past, settlers overcame the geographic frontier of the Allegheny Front to settle Westmoreland County. Owing to that history, we have many firsts that we celebrate today, like the Hannastown Resolves, which predated the Declaration of Independence as one of the most direct affronts to British rule. That spirit of self-sufficiency lives on today and is the catalyst for opportunity.
Our present and future are full of opportunity. Reimagining Our Westmoreland is the blueprint for grasping that opportunity. Over 4,500 people molded the vision crafted in Reimagining Our Westmoreland over a two-year public engagement process. From that effort, seven core objectives animate our actions today.
The first core objective is to align the workforce, education system, employers and entrepreneurs to sustain and foster family supportive careers. Employers need an efficient talent pipeline. By aligning education providers and employers we can deliver the workforce for today’s and tomorrow’s employers. And by cultivating entrepreneurship, we can support the companies of tomorrow. The flagship effort to achieve these aims is the development of an online Career Hub that empowers educators and the community as partners, to foster a vibrant regional economy. Additionally, a unique partnership was forged between public, private, non-profit and educational institutions to re-enliven a corner building in downtown New Kensington into a co-working and entrepreneurial center, called appropriately, The Corner.
Robust marketing, outreach, advertising and welcome campaigns will place our immense assets on the pedestal they deserve. The act of discovering Westmoreland’s burgeoning art and culture scene will become second-nature to those who visit or seek opportunity here. And because of such efforts, all people will be welcome in Westmoreland.
Third, our cities, towns and villages hold significant potential as centers for living, working, culture, entertainment and identity. Repositioning our towns through smart investments in mixed-use development, livability, housing choices and nightlife reflect the changing complexion of the region. Storefronts of a bygone era now house co-working facilities, breweries, boutique clothiers and restaurants. Multi-story buildings are seeing renewed investment for housing. In Greensburg alone, an innovative development fund is helping to develop ten new apartments, renovate a storefront, double the size of an existing restaurant and expand a spa.
Connection to the County’s natural areas, open space and rural character is strengthened daily by investments in the Westmoreland Land Trust and Agricultural Preservation. Farmers now have an opportunity to use shared equipment for the burgeoning hemp industry. The health of our streams and rivers improve through a campaign to restore water quality, bringing back fish and birds not seen in waterways in a generation or more. Additionally, our expanding trail system continues to connect communities with the opening of the Westmoreland Heritage Trail and the Latrobe to St. Vincent Trail.
Westmoreland’s future is also tied to the residents who’ve called it home for most of their lives and into retirement. Building healthy and whole communities that serve the entire age spectrum is vitally important to maintain health and social connection. The County is partnering with its Housing Authority to build 47 units of senior housing. And in other cases, the County’s first-in-the-state Land Bank is revitalizing housing and neighborhood opportunity.
Core objective six recognizes that opportunities of the future hinge on the creativity of technology. That’s why we’re working with six neighboring counties to complete a comprehensive inventory and plan of action to connect our communities to broadband services. In our manufacturing industry, we’re working with partners in education to establish a state-of-the-art digital makerspace that guides the way forward for Industry 4.0.
Westmoreland County has experienced the ever-evolving world of transportation play out from canals to trains, streetcars to automobiles and we’ll be prepared to offer the range of transportation choices demanded by future changes. In the process, we’ll marry the digital and analog systems of transportation to create a seamless web of mode choices.
In all these ways and more, Reimagining Our Westmoreland is living out another of Mr. Roger’s famous quotes, “There is no normal life that is free of pain. It’s the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth.” Westmoreland welcomes you to participate as we Remake Our Westmoreland.
Jason Rigone
Executive Director
Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation
COUNTY FACTS
- 2017 Population: 352,627
- Total Number of Municipalities: 65
- County Seat: Greensburg
- Land Area (sq. mi.): 1,027.6
- 2017 Population Density (people per mile): 343.2
- 2017 Total number of employers: 9,249
- 2017 Total jobs in county: 133,298
- 2017 Total labor force: 181,839
- 2017 Total employed residents: 172,417
- 2017 Earnings per job (mean): $43,979
– 2017 Median household income: $60,713
– 2016 Persons below the poverty line: 10.3% - 2016 – 2017 Public High School Graduates: 3,746
– Post-secondary placement rate: 75.4% - 2017 Population 25 and over: 263,423
– with high school degree or higher: 93.0%
– with bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.9%
Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis, PA Department of Education, PA Department of Labor & Industry, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Largest Municipality:
Hempfield Township: Pop 40,899
Additional Municipalities:
Greensburg
Murrysville
North Huntingdon Township
Penn Township
Unity Township
Economic Development Contact:
Jason Rigone, Executive Director
Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. Fifth Floor, Suite 520
40 North Pennsylvania Avenue
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: 724.830.3061
Fax: 724.850.3611
James Smith, Executive Director
Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland
2 North Main Street, Suite 101
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: 724-830-3000
Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners:
The Honorable Gina Cerilli, Chair
The Honorable Ted Kopas, Vice Chair
The Honorable Charles Anderson
Westmoreland County
2 North Main Street, Suite 101
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: 724.830.3000
Top Private Employers
Employer: Excela Health
Product(s): Health Care
Employees: 5,000
Employer: United Parcel Service
Product(s): Package Delivery
Employees: 1,500
Employer: Polyconcept North America/Leeds
Product(s): Business Accessories
Employees: 1,000
Employer: Elliot Group
Product(s): Industrial Manufacturing
Employees: 897
Employer: Kennametal
Product(s): Industrial Machinery
Employees: 750
Employer: West Penn Power Company
Product(s): Electricity Generation & Distribution
Employees: 699
Employer: Alcoa Inc.
Product(s): Research & Development Services
Employees: 650
Employer: Supervalu
Product(s): Grocery Stores
Employees: 600
Employer: Philips Respironics
Product(s): Medical Products
Employees: 575
Employer: Latrobe Specialty Metals
Product(s): Metal Products Manufacturing
Employees: 520
Sources: Pittsburgh Business Times 2016-2017 Book of Lists, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation
www.co.westmoreland.pa.us
