Originally Published in Pittsburgh Magazine
By Virginia Linn
10/12/2025
View the full article.

Just about everything is in place.

There’s been a public trial to test all aspects of the new terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport. There’s been a fancy gala with Hollywood A-listers to celebrate the $1.7 billion project. And on Saturday there was the official ribbon-cutting with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and other federal, state and Allegheny County dignitaries, as well as an open house that drew 10,500 visitors to see the spanking new terminal for the first time.

A second public trial is scheduled for Oct. 25 after which time, an opening day is expected to be announced. Folks who registered for the Sept. 20 public trial and weren’t selected to participate will be considered for the second round. Nearly 18,000 people initially registered to test all aspects of the new terminal to identify any glitches in the operation.

Recently SPC visited Heartland Fabrication in Fayette County to witness the vital role they play as a manufacturer in our region. This video showcases the impressive launch of a newly constructed barge into the Monongahela River. Located right here in Southwestern PA, Heartland supports the regional economy by creating jobs and driving growth in the manufacturing sector.

Our Executive Director, Rich Fitzgerald, joined Larry Richert on KDKA Newsradio for his weekly segment on regional news.

Dr. Miko Rose, Founding Dean, College of Osteopathic Medicine discusses IUP’s Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine and Lisa Scales, President & CEO, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank shares insights into the organization’s history, mission and work.

Five years after its biggest enterprise was opened there, a major expansion may be taking shape with the help of state and federal development funds in the Windy Ridge park in White Township.

A grant awarded to Indiana County in May will be utilized to aid development of about a quarter of the property on the southern end of the Oakland Avenue business district, following action Wednesday by the Indiana County Board of Commissioners.

Arielle Kaye, right, speaks with students during Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day. (Photo by Adam Reinherz)
Pittsburghers expanded their minds by making the world a bit smaller. Through presentations and conversations inside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, more than 4,000 people observed advancements in automation, artificial intelligence and other rapidly evolving technologies as part of Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day on Nov. 20.

Our Executive Director, Rich Fitzgerald, joined Larry Richert on KDKA Newsradio for his weekly segment on regional news.

Dr. Karen Riley, President of Slippery Rock University, joined the show to talk about Slippery Rock’s innovative strategic plan and its new electrical and computer engineering program. Later, Laura Herrington, Executive Director of the Indiana County Tourist Bureau, dialed in to promote the ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Parade and Festival

Our Executive Director, Rich Fitzgerald, joined Larry Richert on KDKA Newsradio for his weekly segment on regional news.

Jenn Apicella, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network, shared details about the upcoming Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day (Nov. 20 from 9am – 6pm), where over 130 regional robotics companies will showcase their technologies and highlight career opportunities. Later, David Bromberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Pearl Street Technologies, called in to discuss their groundbreaking SUGAR technology, which enhances power grid analysis through advanced modeling and simulation.

In Southwestern Pennsylvania, we’re standing on the edge of a transformative decade for transportation. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is more than just a planning body. We are a collective force uniting 10 counties — Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland — and the City of Pittsburgh, all with a shared mission of improving connectivity, fostering economic growth and building a resilient future for all residents. Our work today will help set the foundation for a transportation system that truly meets the needs of our communities as we move through the challenges and opportunities of the next decade.

The Armstrong County Business Retention Office, headed by George Skamai, along with Armstrong County Commissioners, John Strate, Anthony Shea and Pat Fabian, initiated their 2024-25 business tours.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) spearheads this overall effort; the SPC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the 10 county area in Southwestern Pennsylvania that helps counties, including Armstrong County through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), their inclusive cities, municipalities and townships access over an estimated $39B in state and federal transportation and economic development funding has been allocated to the region through 2045.

Our Executive Director Rich Fitzgerald and Board Chair Pat Fabian (Armstrong County Commissioner) joined WPXI-TV’s ‘Our Region’s Business’ to talk about the importance of working together as a region to secure state and federal investment. Commissioners from many of the ten counties in the Pittsburgh region recently joined the Allegheny Conference in Washington, DC to make the case.