2004 Annual Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2004 ANNUAL REPORT 2 0 0 4 6 0 BRIDGING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER SPANNING 60 YEARS: 1944-2004 ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ITS AFFILIATES PITTSBURGH REGIONAL ALLIANCE GREATER PITTSBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PENNSYLVANIA ECONOMY LEAGUE OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA ABOUT THE CONFERENCE Founded in 1944, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development is the leading economic and community development organization for the 10-county Pittsburgh region of southwestern Pennsylvania. Together with public- and private-sector partners, we work to stimulate growth and improve our region’s quality of life. Our strategic focus is on effective governance (simplified government structure and lower costs) and economic competitiveness (improved business climate and job growth). The Conference relies upon the Regional Investors Council, a broad-based coalition of more than 225 member companies and organizations, to provide time, talent, and resources to advance 3 Rivers: One Future, a regional growth initiative. Through three affiliated organizations, which also have long and impressive legacies, the Conference provides research and analysis, advocacy, and marketing to advance the vision of its leadership. M The PENNSYLVANIA ECONOMY LEAGUE OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, established in 1936, provides public policy research and analysis. M The GREATER PITTSBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, south- western Pennsylvania’s leading business organization for more than 100 years, advocates at all levels of government to secure public sector investment and legislative and regulatory improvements to the region’s business climate. M The PITTSBURGH REGIONAL ALLIANCE markets southwestern Pennsylvania to employers across the region and around the world, to encourage job creation and capital investment. FROM THE CHAIRMAN In 2004, the Allegheny Conference on Community Like the leaders who came before us, the board and Development marked 60 years of service to the staff of the Conference, our affiliates, Regional Investors, Pittsburgh region. Since 1944, partnering with corporate, members and partners are committed to building a civic, and government leaders throughout southwestern regional economy that will be stronger tomorrow than it Pennsylvania, the Conference has been making great things is today. We are further dedicated to the principle that happen by spearheading or initiating the development of our strength comes from the willingness of the people significant projects to improve our region’s economy and who call southwestern Pennsylvania home to work quality of life. From cleaning the air and the rivers to together to create the future they want rather than wait establishing the distinctive skyline now synonymous for the future to find them. We are proud to partner with with a new Pittsburgh, including Point State Park and each of them. the buildings resulting from the Renaissance I and II Martin G. McGuinn development strategies, the Conference has provided If you are involved with the Conference as a Regional essential private-sector leadership for the region’s Chairman of the Board Investor, member or partner, we value your investment development and progress. in our region’s future. If you are not yet engaged, I urge you to join us in building a bridge to the future. By As the Conference enters its seventh decade of providing working together we will overcome the region’s most regional leadership, the challenges to our region’s vitality pressing challenges. are significant. They are, however, no more daunting than the challenges that we’ve faced in the past. Our Martin G. McGuinn private-sector leaders are committed to a future that Chairman of the Board offers economic competitiveness and effective Allegheny Conference on governance for our neighbors across all 10 counties, Community Development enhancing a global reputation for regional excellence. 2004 ANNUAL REPORT 01 FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER In the Pittsburgh region and elsewhere, 2004 was a In 2005, the leadership of the Conference will focus challenging year. The financial crises at US Airways and energy and resources on strategies designed to achieve the City of Pittsburgh, together with a sputtering national regional excellence, especially in terms of economic economy weighed heavily on the region. Despite the competitiveness and effective governance. We will: year’s challenges, the Conference and the region, made significant progress in several priority areas: M Leverage our regional leadership in three converging technology drivers to attract investment and jobs in M Securing $100 million in the Commonwealth’s life sciences, information technology, and advanced economic stimulus package for more than 30 projects materials manufacturing in Allegheny, Butler, Fayette, Lawrence, Washington, M Continue to foster a competitive public-sector and Westmoreland counties, which over time will environment for business growth through initiatives create 10,000 jobs such as the Regional Air Service Partnership and F. Michael Langley M Obtaining support for Act 47 relief for the City of advocacy for tax and government reform Chief Executive Officer Pittsburgh, the first step toward true tax and M Develop the next generation of engaged, educated government reform for the region’s urban core citizens by improving education for elementary, M Locating 26 business expansion and attraction middle, and high school students; enhancing the projects, creating more than 1,500 jobs and quality of life in the region through infrastructure retaining 4,800 more improvements; and attracting and empowering M Reducing airfares while attracting additional airlines diverse individuals through the Regional Air Service Partnership M Successfully attracting the 2005 CITGO BassMaster By focusing in these key areas and leveraging the Classic, a major national event that will showcase the expertise and pride in work well done in which the region in July, and teaming with the Pirates and the region excels, we intend to raise awareness of the good Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau to things happening in the Pittsburgh region, and tell that win the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2006 story to the world. We are making things happen and M Forging new relationships among community and building bridges to the future! business leaders who participated in our first Regional F. Michael Langley Leadership Exchange, an intercity visit to Minneapolis- Chief Executive Officer Saint Paul Allegheny Conference on M Launching a multi-year (2004-2010) history and Community Development tourism initiative to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the French and Indian War M Premiering a weekly television program, "Our Region’s Business," in partnership with Cox Television 02 BRIDGING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER PROGRESS ON PRIORITIES EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE As a coda to the Conference’s first 60 years, 2004 witnessed a number of significant milestones important to regional development and progress. Divided into initiatives furthering regional competitiveness and developing the next generations, our priorities converged to promote the Pittsburgh region’s reemergence as a global leader. 04 BRIDGING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER PROGRESS ON PRIORITIES EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REGIONAL AIR SERVICE In addition to ensuring reliable air services, In June, the EPA designated all or FISCAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP the Conference also participated in a part of nine counties in southwestern collaborative effort to prepare contingency Pennsylvania as "nonattainment" for A strong core city is an essential Reliable air service is critical to plans for assisting displaced US PM2.5 pollution. However, as a direct regional asset to attract and retain our region’s competitiveness. Airways workers. result of Conference efforts, the share of employers and workers. In January 2004, the Conference municipalities affected dropped from 92 The Conference continued to play a convened the Regional Air Service AIR QUALITY REGULATION percent throughout the 10 counties to 69 leading role in efforts to help the City Partnership, a public-private partnership, percent. Additional advocacy and of Pittsburgh achieve long-term financial to maintain competitive air service at A fair regulatory climate is essential for research will be conducted to address air stability without unfairly raising business Pittsburgh International Airport despite our region’s employers to compete. quality issues, and to further reduce the taxes. The Conference and Chamber financial turmoil in the airline industry, The Conference worked aggressively on potential economic impact on our successfully advocated for acceptance and to attract low-cost carriers to the behalf of southwestern Pennsylvania to businesses. of the Act 47 Recovery Plan, which airport to lower overall fares. The prevent nonattainment designations for incorporated most of the Economy partnership conducted research to fine particulate air pollution scheduled to League’s recommendations for deep cost identify key markets that are most be levied by the U.S. Environmental reductions, including the sale of the city’s critical to our region’s business travelers, Protection Agency in 2004. Through a asphalt plant, managed competition of and raised corporate funds to help coordinated campaign of federal and refuse collection, and outsourcing of support the marketing of new air service. state advocacy, active support of Regional fleet maintenance. By early 2005, this effort had helped Investors, and leveraging of