By Mason Fish
SPC
1/30/2026

On the surface, long range planning can often be perceived as distant or overly technical. However, current decisions regarding jobs, transportation, and infrastructure have a direct impact on daily life in Southwestern Pennsylvania. These choices influence residents’ access to employment, business growth, and the long-term desirability of communities. 

At its core, the Long Range Plan is a guide that helps the region prepare for change and serves as a strategic roadmap for making smart future investments. 

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is recognized as both the region’s Economic Development District by the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the Local Development District for the Appalachian Regional Commission. These roles let SPC bring together counties, towns, employers, educators, and residents to set priorities and coordinate resources across the region. 

In 2019, SPC combined the Long Range Transportation Plan and the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy into a single comprehensive plan. This approach recognizes the close link between economic development and transportation access and aims to deliver better results for the entirety of the region. 

Why Does It Matter? 

The Long Range Plan is designed to address a central question: What does Southwestern Pennsylvania require to remain as a strong, competitive, and livable region over the coming decades? 

The economic development side of the plan, called the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), is mandated by the federal government and helps the region qualify for funding. However, CEDS is also very strategy-driven in its aim to make the economy stronger and more resilient. It brings together public agencies, businesses, schools, and community groups to find the best ways to support the region’s economy. 

The transportation portion of the plan examines how people and goods move throughout the region. It covers roads, bridges, public transit, freight, and emerging transportation technologies. It also acknowledges a reality faced by every region: there will never be enough funding to do everything at once. Long range planning helps ensure that limited dollars are prioritized and spent where they can have the greatest impact. 

Together, these parts create a plan for regional growth, better infrastructure, and more opportunity. 

Understanding Both Sides 

Like many regions, Southwestern Pennsylvania is constantly undergoing demographic and economic changes. Since 2010, the region has experienced population decline, and several counties now have more residents over age 65 than youth. Nearly one-quarter of the population is past retirement age, resulting in workforce shortages across multiple industries. 

At the same time, the region produces tens of thousands of college graduates annually, yet a large percentage relocates elsewhere. Employers report challenges in filling open positions, even as sectors such as energy, healthcare, technology, and advanced manufacturing continue to evolve. 

The CEDS part of the Long Range Plan addresses these issues by building capacity. This means improving things like affordable housing, utilities, broadband, and redevelopment sites, as well as workforce training, partnerships, and leadership skills. 

This process helps communities and partners work together to find the best investments for economic growth and long-term stability. The strategy is updated every five years to keep up with changes and stay eligible for federal programs. 

Moreover, strong transportation systems are essential for economic development. People need safe and reliable ways to get to work, businesses need efficient routes to move goods, and seniors need access to services that help them stay independent and connected. 

The transportation system in the SPC region is diverse and complex, serving urban, suburban, and rural communities. Maintaining this infrastructure presents ongoing challenges, especially as assets age and funding remains constrained. 

Additionally, remote and hybrid work are changing how people travel, with less traditional commuting and a greater need for broadband and flexible transportation. The Long Range Transportation Plan helps SPC and its partners focus on safety, system upkeep, and keeping everyone connected. Even though road deaths have gone down, the goal still remains zero. Every investment is made with the belief that any loss of life is unacceptable. 

At the same time, the rise of electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, and data centers is driving higher demand for power, land, and infrastructure. Long range planning helps the region prepare for these changes proactively, instead of reacting after they happen. 

What This Means for Residents 

All in all, even though the Long Range Plan spans multiple decades, its impact is felt every single day. It influences how projects are prioritized, how funding decisions are made, and how communities prepare for the future. 

For residents, the plan influences several key aspects including but not limited to: 

• Access to jobs and training opportunities 
• Safe and reliable transportation options 
• Community redevelopment and infrastructure investment 
• Long term economic stability for the region 

By integrating economic development and transportation planning, SPC wants to help ensure that investments work together rather than in isolation. The result is a more coordinated approach to growth that reflects shared regional goals. 

Overall, long range planning is about more than just forecasts and data. It focuses on working together and getting ready for what’s to come. By keeping the public involved and building partnerships, SPC’s Long Range Plan helps the region stay connected and ready for whatever comes next. 

By Mason Fish
SPC
12/12/2025

If you have never been to one of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s (SPC) public meetings, you might picture a long slideshow in a quiet room with a drawn-out lecture. However, what you will actually find is something very different.

When you walk through the door, you will usually see neighbors chatting near a table of maps, local officials asking questions about roads they drive every day, or residents comparing notes about trails, transit, traffic, or the project they have been hoping to see move forward for years.

Many attendees are curious about what is happening in their area. Others want to understand why transportation projects take time, or how decisions are made, or what big changes might be on the horizon. And almost everyone wants to know how they can help shape what comes next.

At the heart of it all? Public meetings exist to give you, the people who live, work, and travel here, a direct say in massive decisions that affect daily life. Think about it: roads don’t fix themselves, buses don’t reroute on a whim, and bridges don’t build without input.

These meetings are mandated by federal law for organizations like us to ensure transparency and community involvement in transportation planning. Without them, decisions might overlook the pothole on your street or the need for better transit in your neighborhood. Instead, they turn your ideas into priorities, helping to allocate funding toward projects that make Southwestern PA safer, smoother, and more connected.

And guess what? We just wrapped up the latest round of public meetings and comment periods for the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) earlier this month.

A Meeting Built Around You

Why does SPC hold these meetings year after year? The answer is quite simple. Transportation isn’t just about asphalt and engines… it’s about people. SPC’s events are designed to unriddle this process, turning complex plans like the TIP, Long Range Transportation Plan, and Public Participation Plan into digestible chats. As our region’s federally designated hub for planning, we team up with local, state, and federal officials to turn ideas into reality.

All of our public meetings are interactive hubs where you can explore maps, ask any question you might have (like “Why does this take so long?”), or share anything else on your mind. Public input ensures that underrepresented voices, from rural areas to urban hubs, influence where dollars go. Plus, it’s fun to see your neighbor’s eyes light up when they spot a proposed trail that could connect their backyard to the park!

Did You Know?

First-time attendees are often surprised by how approachable and effective these meetings can be.

Here’s what you should know:

• Participation has steadily been on the uptick since the virtual-only sessions during COVID, showing that community engagement is valued both online and in person.
• Every comment matters. All feedback submitted via handwritten notes or email is reviewed and compiled into official reports that are shared with PennDOT and other agencies.
• If you cannot attend a meeting, materials remain available online throughout the year, allowing for review, learning, and feedback submission at any time.
• These meetings are not isolated events. They are part of a larger framework where public input helps meet federal requirements for air quality, safety, and other priorities, turning local concerns into regional improvements.

Inside the Meeting Room

Meetings begin with a brief introduction to SPC’s role, followed by updates and overviews of key initiatives. Attendees learn about the plan being discussed, including proposed investments and timelines. Recent project completions, such as new bridges, are highlighted alongside funding sources and upcoming milestones. Meetings also provide previews of important projects, from congestion mitigation to trail expansions.

The public comments & questions period is particularly important. Safety concerns such as lighting and guardrails are frequently raised, along with issues related to transit, traffic, and trails. Attendees often remain after meetings to discuss specific concerns, such as conditions near local schools. These interactions allow opportunities for face-to-face dialogue that surveys alone cannot provide. They help ensure projects reflect the real needs of the community and create a sense of shared ownership in regional planning.

“All of the comments that come in, whether through the email inbox or hard copies, are reviewed. Each comment then becomes documented into a larger public comment report,” said SPC Public Involvement Coordinator Ronda Craig.

This means that every single public submission is read, logged, and shared with decision-makers at various agencies relevant to the plan being discussed.

Community input helps guide long-term transportation projects, promotes accountability, and ensures plans evolve with regional needs. Public participation has historically influenced project priorities, redirecting plans when needed, and reinforcing that these meetings are an essential part of our planning.

Staying Connected

Missed the recent TIP round? Jump in anytime! SPC keeps materials online, releases updates via social media and this newsletter, and flags upcoming events. Progress thrives on participation. Whether you’re a transit enthusiast, a daily driver, or just curious, these meetings remind everyone: Our region’s future isn’t set in stone, it’s shaped by all of us.

By Rich Fitzgerald
Executive Director, SPC
11/20/2025

As we open the brand-new landside terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport, it’s important to remember the years of work that got us to today. For over a decade, thousands of people across our region have worked to make this a reality. The opening of the new Pittsburgh International Airport represents so much more than just the completion of a major infrastructure project. To me, it marks the start of a new era for Southwestern Pennsylvania and a defining moment for our region’s future.

I remember when the airport faced a very different situation. After Pittsburgh lost its hub, the facility lost most of its revenue and was left with a terminal made for an airline that no longer existed. It was an airport that prioritized connecting passengers at the expense of Pittsburgh visitors and residents.

When I served as the Allegheny County Executive, I made a few key decisions that proved monumental for the airport’s success. First, the decision to lease the natural gas beneath the 8800 acres of the airport helped stabilize finances and opened the door to a new direction. Second, Hiring Christina Cassotis as CEO. Her vision was clear and straightforward from day one. I remember her specifically telling me that we were not getting the hub back. However, what she offered in return was far more valuable…A vision for a right-sized airport that would work for the community it serves.

She was the exact type of leader we had sought after, one who wasn’t looking at our past and what we used to be, but who could imagine what we were capable of with the proper plan, strategy, and execution.

Support for this project came from all levels of government over many years. Leaders across political lines recognized the value of a project that would strengthen our region for decades to come. Past and current federal, state, and local officials helped move this project from a conversation to a reality.

When I look at this beautiful new facility, I see the efforts of labor leaders, business executives and organizations, entrepreneurs and innovators, public servants and public officials. Most importantly, though, I see the work of thousands of hardworking Pittsburghers who laid the flooring and welded the support beams, who painted and ran electrical components and installed the modern baggage control system. I see Pittsburghers who are proud of this new airport and the role they’ve played in it.

Flights have expanded, destinations have grown, and most importantly, the terminal feels like it belongs to the people who use it. It feels grounded in our region’s identity and energy. Every beam and every corridor reflects not just design, but commitment.

Ultimately, the new new airport is a statement about what we can accomplish and a symbol that our residents can take pride in. Not only was it built for Pittsburghers, but it was built by Pittsburghers. It is a space where businesses can grow, where travelers experience the city at its best, and where residents can take pride in their region.

This terminal tells every company, every visitor, and every young person with a dream that Pittsburgh is designing for the future. It’s more than just a place to catch a flight. It’s a bold statement of the region’s ambition, a reflection of Pittsburgh’s dedication, and a place that will carry the community forward for decades to come.

By Mason Fish
SPC
10/29/2025

The way goods move across Southwestern Pennsylvania shapes nearly every part of daily life, from how grocery stores stay stocked to how local industries get their products to the market. Behind the scenes, freight networks connect the region’s roads, railways, airports, and waterways into one complex system that keeps the economy running. That constant, mostly unseen movement is one of the reasons our region works, and it is why updating the Regional Freight Plan matters.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) adopted its first Regional Freight Plan in 2017. At the time, the plan helped set priorities for maintaining and improving the systems that move goods across the 10-county region that the organization serves. But in the years since, the world has changed dramatically. Supply chains have been reshaped, consumer habits have shifted, shippers have adapted, and the local economy has continued to evolve from where it was a decade ago.

Therefore, SPC is now leading an update to the Regional Freight Plan, in order to make sure the region can keep goods moving efficiently and safely for years to come!

While freight can seem like a technical subject, the core idea behind the plan is simple. Freight is about how things get where they need to go. From raw materials to finished products, the freight network touches nearly every aspect of daily life.

“We like to think of our freight network as a system… a highway system supported by a rail network, supported by rivers, supported by an airport. They all have to work together,” said SPC Freight Planning Manager Sara Walfoort.

When it works well, businesses can grow, communities are supplied, and the region stays economically connected. When it struggles, everyone feels the effects. Southwestern Pennsylvania is unique when it comes to freight movement. The region’s geography, history, and industrial makeup have created a truly multi-modal network. Many places in the U.S. rely almost entirely on trucking, but in our region, the network has always been broader.

The region has:

• 18 active railroads; approximately 30 percent of the railroads in PA;
• Over 1,300 miles of rail lines within the 10 counties SPC serves;
• One of the busiest inland river ports in the country, historically ranking among the top nationally when measured by tonnage;
• A highway system that connects to major population centers and industrial corridors; and
• Air cargo capacity that supports high-value, time-sensitive products.

This diversity matters, and different modes of transportation serve different needs. Heavy commodities like coal, steel inputs, or construction aggregates can move efficiently by river barge. High-value or urgent products, such as medical components or electronics, may move by air. Trucks are essential for reaching the thousands of communities that rail and river terminals don’t directly serve. Rail is critical for long-haul shipments and energy supply. When all of these systems work together, companies have options which allows the region to maintain a competitive advantage.

However, this system only works if it is maintained, modernized, and coordinated. A closed lock on a river, for example, can shift freight onto trucks, sending thousands of additional heavy vehicles onto roadways. Congestion on a key highway can slow deliveries. Rail bottlenecks can hold up shipments across multiple states. And when one part of the network becomes strained, the whole system feels the impact.

That is where the updated Regional Freight Plan comes in. This document will take a clear look at how goods actually move through our region today, mapping out the roads, railways, river facilities, and other key connections that form the backbone of the network. It will highlight where strategic investments could improve safety and reliability, while also supporting more efficient movement of goods.

While SPC is not a freight operator and doesn’t run trains, barges, or fleets of trucks, it does play a central role in planning, investment prioritization, and coordination. The updated plan will serve as a bridge between public agencies, private industry, and the broader community, ensuring that decisions are made with a clear understanding of how the freight network works and what the region needs next.

“I want to move to a more systems-based approach, looking at roadway condition, track history, bottlenecks, and how trucks traverse roads… so we can invest freight improvement dollars wisely,” said Walfoort.

The updated plan is expected to be delivered by June 2027, with a focus on making targeted improvements across the region’s transportation network. 

The hope for this new blueprint is to help SPC prioritize investments that strengthen the network as a whole rather than addressing issues in isolation. The plan will assess things such as essential corridors and facilities to identify constraints, reduce delivery delays, improve safety, and help businesses get products to market more efficiently. Better coordination among freight modes could lower transportation costs, support economic growth, and ensure the region remains competitive.

The update also aligns closely with SPC’s Long Range plan and with the Pennsylvania 2045 Freight Movement Plan adopted at the state level. By keeping these plans synced, SPC helps ensure that regional priorities are recognized and funded at the state and national levels.

To make the updated freight plan meaningful, SPC is focusing not only on data and infrastructure, but also on communication and public understanding. Many people fail to realize how closely freight is tied to economic opportunity, community stability, and quality of life. This newsletter is one part of that effort in helping connect the dots between freight movement and daily life.

At the end of the day, it’s about supporting the future of the region’s economy, from job creation to infrastructure investment to keeping everyday goods moving where they’re needed. Freight touches everything, even if most of the work happens out of sight.

As the update progresses, SPC will share opportunities to learn more and participate. Whether you work in logistics, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, or just shop for groceries, the freight network helps ensure products reach homes, businesses, and communities across the region.

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.

“With the opening of this new terminal, we will have a beautiful new gateway to welcome the rest of the county and the country and the world right here to Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania,” Shapiro told the crowd at the ribbon-cutting.

He said the commonwealth has invested more than $80 million in the airport growth over the years.

“The work that we are celebrating today is critical for Pittsburgh’s economic growth, and it’s also going to be critical when we join the Steelers to welcome athletes and sports fans from all over the world to the NFL draft in April [2026]. This new terminal is part of our collective effort to grow this region.”

Airport CEO Christina Cassotis, who advocated for the building of a new terminal to better fit the region’s needs after she was hired to head the Allegheny County Airport Authority 10 years ago, said the project fulfills her dreams.

“The building design was always aspirational,” Cassotis said. “It was meant and designed to work for everyone, for actual people who travel through and work in an airport, but the building itself, if you look at it now, I think is actually inspirational. Being in this space feels good, and that’s a pretty big statement for an airport to make.”

Also at the ribbon-cutting were Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio, Mike Kelly and Summer Lee; State Sen. Devlin Robinson; State Rep. Valerie Gaydos; Allegheny County Council President Pat Catena; Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Executive Director and former Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

U.S Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, and Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey did not attend.

“Somebody said that this terminal will bring in more flights, more passengers, but only if we do our job,” Cassotis said, “only if we do our job as a community, because we need to make sure that we deliver on the promise, which is that the moment you step off this plane the airport is telling a story about this community.

“It’s telling a story about the city of champions, and it’s time for the rest of us to change the way we champion Pittsburgh. This gives us a reason to do it.”

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.

Designed to transport heavy cargo, the barge will facilitate the movement of goods across industries like construction and energy, enhancing supply chain efficiency in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Through efforts with manufacturers like Heartland, SPC continues to bolster the infrastructure and economic vitality of our 10-county region. Watch the launch to get a glimpse at one of only two companies in the United States that manufacture barges!

View a video of the launch HERE.

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.

If you missed the show, you can catch up here: https://www.audacy.com/podcast/the-big-k-morning-show-8dd79/episodes/an-hour-with-rich-fitzgerald-7fb0d

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.

That action was requested of the county commissioners by the Indiana County Office of Planning & Development.

“Access Roadway Projects proposes a public-private collaboration with the Indiana County Development Corporation, a 501©6 non-profit with project administration by (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) District 10, proposes design, permitting and construction of two access roads of approximately 550 feet (0.11 miles) and 300 feet (0.06 miles), respectively, and related infrastructure to support the 210-acre Windy Ridge Business and Technology Park,” said Byron G. Stauffer Jr., executive director of both ICOPD and ICDC.

“When complete,” Stauffer continued, “these two access roads will serve five development lots totaling 55.202 acres.”

At the juncture of state Route 286 (Oakland Avenue) and U.S. Route 422, and not far from an interchange with U.S. Route 119, Stauffer said the park is in a strategic location, “geographically located to be a regional job center to support office, manufacturing, distribution and an array of other growth industries.”

However, little seems to have happened since Urban Outfitters opened a fulfillment center there in October 2019, that services that company’s digital customers across the United States.

According to the Urban Outfitters urbn.com website, the location was designed with efficient and ergonomic processes crafted to handle the company’s brands of furniture and large footprint items.

“The ICDC has received a number of inquiries for the subject property,” Stauffer told the board, “However, the lack of adequate access roads has been challenging.”

The way toward those access roads may have gone through a couple stops in Harrisburg, and apparently will need another stop in Washington, D.C.

As announced by Gov. Josh Shapiro in May, ICDC is receiving $1 million out of more than $10.6 million in PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments To Enhance Sites) funding.

The governor’s office said PA SITES funds will be used there for engineering, environmental cleanup, demolition, and the construction and site preparation for a 500-foot extension of a roadway to Lot 21 and an intersection connecting to Lot 1.

Additionally, DCED said, funds will be used for street lighting, utility facilities, signage, sanitary sewer, storm water management, and erosion and sediment controls.

ICDC later secured additional funding, this time $1 million from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. Stauffer said that $1 million will serve as matching funds for the first million.

Also with approval from the commissioners Wednesday, ICOPD will seek to file an application for $475,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission Access Road Program.

The Windy Ridge access road plan was one of several actions sought by ICOPD that the commissioners approved Wednesday.

One was approval of a resolution that recertifies that the Indiana County Revolving Loan Funds, inluding the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act Revolving Loan Fund, are being operated consistent with existing Economic Development Strategy and in accordance with the policies and procedures contained in the administrative plan.

“This is a housekeeping item required semi-annually by the (U.S.) Economic Development Administration,” ICOPD Deputy Director for Economic Development Angela Campisano told the commissioners. “Our Economic Development Strategy is embodied within the document, ‘SmartMoves for a Changing Region,’ which is developed by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and endorsed by EDA.”

ICOPD Deputy Director for Community Development & Housing David Morrow had three items to present for approval by the county board, two of them for the Dixonville Commons building project:

• A contract agreement with Crane Masonry of Indiana for a wall repair project in the amount of $73,250, to be covered by Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program and Platinum Visual Solutions funds.
• A contract agreement with Byler Roofing Service of Ebensburg for removal of existing roof materials in the amount of $54,810, also to be covered by RACP and Platinum Visual Solutions funds.

Third was a $6,227 change order in the contract with Sheesley Electric for the YMCA of Indiana County Locker Room Renovation Project, to be covered by YMCA and RACP funds. It brings the total contract for that work to $116,227.

Stauffer also had two other matters for the commissioners’ consideration:

• A grant application for up to $1 million in Local Share Account funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development for a new entrance road into the county’s Buttermilk Falls Natural Area in West Wheatfield Township, accessing a parcel that once was a retreat for the family of the late television personality Fred Rogers’ maternal grandfather and includes the McFeely Trail.
• An allocation of $100,000 in liquid fuels money from PennDOT District 10 for Center Township, to partially offset eligible project costs for the Lucerne Mines Road Resurfacing Project. Stauffer said the total estimated project cost is $455,000.

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.

About 130 exhibitors participated in the event, administered by Pittsburgh Robotics Network, touting the region’s contributions and connections to innovation.

Standing beside one of several hundred tables at the convention center, Arielle Kaye told passersby about a lightweight 3-D printed prosthetic arm: “It’s called a PJ Prosthesis because after you get home and get into your comfy clothes or PJs you just throw on your PJ Prosthesis.”

Created by Tikkun Olam Makers, the Israeli-made device allows users to swap out “end units” for specific needs. One piece lets someone easily strum a guitar. Another extension is for playing the violin. Each attachment is a result of “individual needs,” Kaye said. The beauty of TOM is that it fosters a collaborative process between users and innovators to create affordable solutions predicated on “human-centered design.”

Kaye, a graduate student at New York University and TOM’s university program manager, joined Discovery Day in an effort to promote curiosity and simplicity.

“So much of this is so affordable,” she said.

The PJ Prosthesis costs about $60. A fully functioning prosthetic arm sets buyers back about 1,000 times more.

“If you open your mind, there are so many different solutions for the challenges that people are dealing with,” Kaye said. Participating in this event was a chance to encourage people to “use innovation and creative thinking to solve unmet needs in our global communities.”

Andrew Rabin spoke with several Israeli entrepreneurs and local tech professionals near TOM’s table. Rabin is the founder and chair of 412×972, an organization that creates “profitable” ties between companies in Pittsburgh and Israel.

“Rising tide lifts all boats,” Rabin told the Chronicle. “Allowing Israeli companies to come into the Pittsburgh community, and allowing Pittsburgh companies to have a seamless pathway into the Israeli community, builds bridges which are more important than ever right now.”

Generating economic development is 412×972’s goal, but there’s also the need to create goodwill, Rabin said. “It’s business. We’re trying to sort of solve problems and help everyone mutually from an economic benefit, politics and issues aside. Life goes on and if we strengthen those connections it helps us all.”

Rich Fitzgerald, executive director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and former Allegheny County executive, said he was pleased to see a number of Israeli companies at Discovery Day.

“We in western Pennsylvania, particularly Pittsburgh, have had a longstanding connection with our friends in Israel going back decades,” he said. “Obviously now with some of the situations that are happening, it’s I think in many ways strengthened that bond, so anything we can continue to do to tie together our cultural, our economic, all the various things we do, is important.”

Whether from Israel or elsewhere, companies come to Pittsburgh to access the region’s insights, Jennifer Apicella, Pittsburgh Robotics Network’s executive director, explained.

“Our globally recognized expertise with innovation positions us as a key partner for businesses around the world seeking cutting-edge automation solutions and business expansion opportunities,” she said. “From forging strategic collaborations to exporting transformative technologies, Pittsburgh is driving the global economy forward.”

Chana Rose Hochman attended Discovery Day after hearing about the conference from Gal Inbar, 412×972’s executive director.

Hochman, a former Beersheba resident with expertise in avionics and aerospace engineering, spoke with several company representatives at the event.

“I’m looking for work, so if anyone needs a technical project manager, I’m here,” she told the Chronicle.

Hochman described Discovery Day as a valuable resource for job seekers, employers and potential business partners.

“I’m learning about companies I didn’t even know about,” she said. “There’s just so much. It’s really cool. I feel like I’m in a candy store.”

As drones buzzed overhead and busloads of students passed from table to table, entrepreneurs and innovators mingled. Roboticists showed off their creations. One team asked this reporter to control a spider-looking device with a remote control. Another team touted its creation’s ability to safely lift pallets while detecting nearby people, thus preventing injury. Throughout the day, representatives of local universities and global corporations clamored for attention.

“What there are in this industry are a lot of job opportunities,” Fitzgerald said. “You don’t have to be a software engineering doctorate from CMU to get a job. You could come right out of high school, come out of community college, have skills, maybe a little bit of experience in construction, manufacturing, or hospitality and warehousing, and you’ll find some opportunities here.”

Shai Eisen spent Discovery Day speaking with potential partners about his Israeli-based company, Korra.

“We’re all about unleashing industrial knowledge,” the CEO told the Chronicle.

Among entities that have existed for decades a problem often exists, Eisen explained: Institutional knowledge is likely compiled in paper documents, manuals and procedures.

“It’s all over the place,” he said. “We built an AI engine that is able to read all that content.”

Attending Discovery Day allowed Eisen to hear about other companies’ “pain points and needs,” he continued. “I’ve learned there’s a huge potential in Pittsburgh.”

Inbar of 412×972 said Discovery Day demonstrates the possibility of partnership.

Companies come together for specific projects, but “methodologies and concepts trickle both ways,” he said.

Pittsburghers learn from Israelis, Israelis learn from Pittsburghers, and technology advances.

“Cross-pollination is a magical thing,” he said. “There’s so much value to be created.” PJC

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

If you missed the show, you can catch up here: https://www.audacy.com/podcast/the-big-k-morning-show-8dd79/episodes/larrys-weekly-conversation-with-rich-fitzgerald-b606a