JUNE 2008

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Going Green Saves Energy & Money: Eaton Corp.’s Electrical Headquarters Expansion

From the dollars that point to profitable business operations and a stable economy to purposeful, environmentally sound decisions and practices – green is the color of good business sense and sustainability. Eaton Corporation’s $24 million, 120,000 SF expansion project, designed to achieve Silver LEED certification status, is nearing completion this summer. Of unique importance, Eaton is doing so using many of its own power-management products - which aid its customers in ‘going green’ and achieving LEED certification of their own. For a ‘sneak preview’ of the site, the PRA recently partnered with Eaton Corporation and the Green Building Alliance (GBA) to host a hard hat tour regional media, providing a firsthand look at how LEED elements can conserve natural resources, save businesses money (think electricity use cut by 50 percent) and contribute to a positive employee working environment.

“The fact that Eaton's own components were used shows that green projects can be more than just a trend but also smart corporate strategy, said Dewitt Peart, president of the PRA … Set for occupancy in August, it's one of about 85 projects on track to be LEED-certified in western Pennsylvania in 2008, joining 40 or so in operation … ” Read More

Expedient Communications Expands Pittsburgh Footprint
Expedient Communications has finalized plans to expand into Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Center Mall complex, its second expansion announcement in less than 90 days. The move will add an additional 24,000 SF of data center space and state-of-the art, power, cooling and network facilities to the growing provider of data center colocation and managed solutions for local business customers in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Boston. Read more

Headquarters Relocation: Dawar Technologies
Dawar Technologies [recently] announced that it has secured and will occupy a new 47,000 SF building located on the North Side of Pittsburgh … Transition to the new facility will provide Dawar with an additional 23,000 SF to accommodate their rapid expansion. Read more

National Hub for Artificial Intelligence Companies, Hiring
“Three research-based artificial intelligence companies – Apangea Learning, Carnegie Learning and Quantum Simulations – have established a solid presence in Pittsburgh and have created an exciting niche for technology education. While each approaches the business differently, all three report strong growth, new products and hiring. Several months ago Carnegie Learning suggested to the Department of Community and Economic Development that education software be established as a cluster business in Western Pa. ‘…We need to create a niche for economic benefits … Pittsburgh is a great place for interactive education companies.’” Read more

Airport Area Development: Business Park and Hotels Planned
“DiCicco Development, Inc. plans to bring two Hilton hotels, commerce park properties and professional office space to the airport corridor. Now under development is the 50-acre Cherrington Commerce Park, which currently features three available pad-ready sites. Also planned for the 600,000 SF commerce park … is a variety of multi- and single-story Class A office and flex properties … ‘The location is superb. It’s within the heart of the Moon Township business park zoning, and the strongest office market. The US Airways operations center is under construction there, and it’s adjacent to amenities and hotels.’” Read more

PRA Ranked a Top 10 Economic Development Organization
“The PRA was rated among the top 10 economic development organizations in the country by Site Selection magazine … the official publication of the Industrial Asset Management Council, the nation’s leading association of corporate real estate executives, their suppliers, service providers and economic developers. ‘This is a validation that Pittsburgh does work as a region and a reflection of the partnership we’ve created here,’ says Dewitt Peart, president of the PRA. ‘One of our major missions is to promote the 10-county region to investors outside of our region. The companies in Pittsburgh, whether steel, life sciences or IT, are in demand around the world.'” Read more

New Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) Partnership: Fayette & Washington Counties
“Fayette and Washington counties are partnering in another state-supported … KIZ (Keystone Innovation Zone) program that aims to join higher education, lending institutions, venture capitalists and startup companies in creating more jobs … the KIZs will focus on the four key areas that [companies] need to grow and expand - capital, facilities, technology innovation and workforce.” Read more about the Fayette/Washington KIZ program. With $11 million in investments leveraged since its inception in 2004, the KIZ program has helped leverage more than $416 million in additional public and private funds and has created 187 early-stage companies, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Read more

Region Attractive to 'Clean Tech' Pioneers
“The founders of Fossil Free Energy, a 4-year-old company that designs and installs kits allowing diesel engines to operate on processed waste vegetable oil, relocated the company to Braddock, Pa. a year ago. They were drawn to western Pennsylvania … by cheap rent, friendly, knowledgeable people and Pittsburgh's positive environmental reputation. ‘Pittsburgh was known as a center for green industry …’ The Pittsburgh Technology Council [recently] began the Cleantech Network, a unit within the local trade association dedicated to promoting and sustaining companies involved with technologies that produce energy with lower or no pollution.” Read more

	INNOVATION: Access to Podcasts Without a Computer
	“Watching and listening to podcasts just got easier. Pittsburgh-based CastGrabber has launched what it says is the world’s first device to automatically download podcasts directly to an MP3 or Apple iPod without a personal computer.” Read more
	INNOVATION: Making Computers Smarter
	“Play an online game, make a computer smarter. That’s the idea behind a new site launched by scientists in Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science, games with a purpose, or GWAPS. It’s the latest ingenious creation of Luis von Ahn who introduced the world to reCAPTCHA last year, another game in which people solve puzzles and ultimately help to digitize old books by converting printed text into computer-readable letters. ‘We’re trying to make computers become more human … There are a lot of things none of us want to do, wouldn’t it be great if we could get computers to do stuff for us?’” Read more
	INNOVATION: Changing the Future of National Security
	“You are about to become your hand. Carnegie Mellon University’s Laboratory for International Data Privacy … has developed security technology that may soon change the way travelers enter foreign countries, forensic scientists investigate crime and terrorist scenes and the way you wave to friends. With a flash of the front of your hand - the fingers, thumb and palm - the HandShot ID System captures an imprint that provides unmistakable proof of one’s identity, a technology that may boost criminal investigations and help make the world a safer place.” Read more
	INNOVATION: Vented, Wide-Mouth Beer Can
	“Beer drinkers who like their brew in a can and want a smoother pour now can get it - thanks to a new pull-top can developed by Alcoa Inc. The wider pull-top with a vent, featured on Coors Brewing Co. cans, was developed at the Alcoa Technical Center in Upper Burrell, Pa. It's not the first time Alcoa has contributed to making it easier for Americans to drink out of a can. In 1962, the company made the first pull-top aluminum can, which revolutionized the beer and soft-drink industries…” Read more
	INNOVATION: New Game Designed to Entertain Kids in Waiting Rooms
	Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center spinoff Electric Owl Studios is “… pushing the boundary of traditional children's entertainment. Their flagship toy, K.I.C.K. (kids interaction creation kiosks) is a futuristic fun device that entertains children to age seven with short interactive games while they pass the time in waiting rooms. Unlike traditional digital games that can consume the player with levels, K.I.C.K. is designed so that parents can pull children away when it’s time to go. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh has piloted K.I.C.K. …” Read more

Pittsburgh Ranked First for Relocating Families
Already home to “America's most livable city,” the Pittsburgh region is now also the No. 1 “Best City for Relocating Families” among large U.S. metropolitan areas, according to WorldWide ERC. “San Antonio-based Worldwide ERC, a relocation services industry trade group, in conjunction with Primacy Relocation, an international relocation firm … worked with Bert Sperling of Sperling's BestPlaces to rate cities based on a variety of criteria [important to employers considering relocation]. Pittsburgh beat out Indianapolis, the second-ranked big city, and three Texas metros, Austin, Forth Worth and San Antonio, to take the top spot.” Read more

BROOKINGS Institute Previews Blueprint for American Prosperity to PRA Partners
At a recent meeting, the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance Partners heard about the Blueprint for American Prosperity, a multi-year initiative to promote a national economic agenda that builds on the assets and centrality of America’s metropolitan areas in order to succeed in the new global economy. The presentation illustrated how southwestern Pennsylvania must leverage four key assets – innovation, superior infrastructure, human capital and quality places for living, working and recreating. These assets help increase the productivity of firms and workers, boost incomes and can help promote more productive, inclusive and sustainable growth in our metro areas, and thus nationwide. In these times of change, including increased global competition, energy concerns, economic restructuring and population shifts, the ability of the Pittsburgh region to grow and prosper depends on our metropolitan area’s health and vitality. See the Pittsburgh Metropolitan profile and learn more.

ThoughtForm: First Area Design Firm to Receive Prestigious AIGA Award
“A dynamic trio of Pittsburgh design innovators will receive national recognition this week as the first western Pennsylvania recipients of the coveted AIGA Fellow Award. Reed Agnew, Don Moyer and Grant Smith, founders of the Pittsburgh design firm ThoughtForm, will be honored for their commitment and contributions to excellence in the field of design. Founded in 1980, the firm has carved a unique niche for itself as an innovator in the field of information architecture, making complex information clear and engaging through thoughtful design and visual communications.” Read more

Elliance Recognized in Competitive International Interactive Awards
The Horizon Interactive Awards, a leading international interactive media awards competition, announced the 2008 award winners to highlight this year’s “best of the best” in interactive media production. Among them was Pittsburgh-based Elliance, given the Silver award for the Business to Business Category for www.MillerWelding.com and with a Bronze award for the Public Service/Nonprofit Category for www.PittsburghGlassCenter.org.

Indiana Residential Revival Project: Ground Breaks on Phase III
The Foundation for Indiana University of Pennsylvania and IUP recently broke ground for Phase III of the Residential Revival project, a public-private collaboration that is revolutionizing the way students live and learn at IUP. Phase III of this $270 million multiphase project will offer two new buildings - the Sutton Suites and Suites on Pratt - with approximately 1,084 beds for fall 2009.

EVENTS

Friday, June 20 – Canada Night at PNC Park (PDF file)
Attend the first ever Canada Night at PNC Park as the Pirates welcome the Toronto Blue Jays to Pittsburgh for the first time in MLB history. Field Box Seats available for $20, including a Canadian Branded Pirates Cap. Stay after the game for a fantastic Zambelli Firework display. The game begins at 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, June 22-25 – 2008 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Attend the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) in Pittsburgh for the 115th Annual ASEE Conference & Exposition. Promote your brand and enhance your recruiting efforts at the world's largest gathering of engineering educators. And don’t forget to visit the PRA table at the event trade show.

Thursday, June 26 – Changing Risk Environment for Global Business featuring Lloyd’s of London Chairman Peter Levene
Meet the chairman of the world’s leading specialist insurance institution and hear more about what some of the most forward-looking companies are doing to understand and manage risk. The British American Business Council Pittsburgh Region (BABC) and the Risk Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS) invite you to attend a luncheon presentation from 12:30 – 2 p.m. at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel. Levene will address issues such as climate change, the credit crunch and global political instability.

Saturday, August 2-28 - Diversity SoccerFest 2008
Join The Hispanic Center, Inc. in celebrating diversity with soccer games and other activities on August 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 2008 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at North Park Soccer Fields. Activities include: authentic Mexican food on sale, a food drive for Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, children's mini soccer games and special guests from the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to public officials. Plus, a Diversity/Career Fair is scheduled for August 28th, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE

September – Pittsburgh International Month (PDF file)

A month’s worth of activities are being planned for September 2008 to highlight the Pittsburgh region’s diversity, from both a cultural and a business perspective. Organized in conjunction with the region’s 250th anniversary celebration events will celebrate the region as a hub of global cultures and global business – emphasizing the many international companies with local operations here.