2025: A Transformational Year for the Pittsburgh Region
December 17, 2025
Some years move steadily. Others redefine what a region can achieve.
For southwestern Pennsylvania, 2025 was transformational.
Across industries, communities, and levels of government, this was a year when long-term planning turned into visible results. It was a year when collaboration became the region’s competitive advantage and when the strengths of our political and business ecosystems aligned in ways that set the Pittsburgh region apart on the national stage.
And throughout the year, the Allegheny Conference played a central role in helping the region compete, win, and chart a new path forward.
Delivering Record-Breaking Investment
In 2025, we helped secure 21 major business investments across the Pittsburgh region, creating or retaining 18,574 jobs and generating more than $16.1 billion in capital investment. This marks the strongest project year our region has seen in over a decade and reflects growing confidence from companies that chose to invest significant capital and people here.
Among this year’s standout investments:
The $10 billion Homer City Redevelopment project is transforming a former coal-fired facility into a modern technology and data hub, a powerful example of how former energy sites can be repositioned for the future.
U.S. Steel’s $2.4 billion expansion reinforces the Pittsburgh region’s role in advanced manufacturing and the reshoring of critical production capacity. CEO Stefani Pashman’s May 15th op-ed in the Pittsburgh Business Times captures why the Nippon deal is a welcome investment into our community.
Eos Energy’s $352.9 million headquarters relocation and manufacturing operations expansion in Allegheny County will establish a new software hub at Nova Place where the company will move its headquarters, further establishing the company as an energy storage leader.
Together, these projects created jobs, expanded supply chains, anchored new investment corridors, and provided tangible proof for state and federal partners that when they invest here, this region delivers.
What’s driving business investment trends
Behind every major project win is a policy environment that supports it. In 2025, we continued to work with bipartisan partners at the state and federal levels to make the Pittsburgh region and Pennsylvania more competitive.
And the message is clear: when companies choose southwestern Pennsylvania, they are choosing a region where market opportunity and public policy are moving in the same direction. These are two powerful drivers of business investment and growth.
Over time, the region’s economic competitiveness continues to improve as we continue to advance policies that strengthen our business competitiveness including:
- Continued implementation of the Corporate Net Income Tax rate reduction, which is phasing down to 4.99% over time.
- Expansion and deployment of the PA SITES Program to create more shovel-ready sites across the Commonwealth.
- Use of permitting tools such as PA Permit Fast Track and SPEED to help high-impact projects move more efficiently.
- Execution of the Downtown Vision plan creating the new Arts Landing, reinventing Market Square, and building 800 new housing units through real estate conversions. Downtown is becoming a vibrant neighborhood, cementing its place as our region’s living room.
These moves reinforce Pennsylvania’s standing as one of the top business climates in the country: we have climbed the leaderboard to the 11th spot in the nation as the top business climate in the Northeast. They also align with broader economic analysis showing that Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast with a growing economy, according to recent reporting by Moody’s Analytics data.
Focusing on Partnership
Pittsburgh is known for its grit, tradition, and innovation – it’s a region where industry leaders like Westinghouse and R.K. Mellon meet the commitment of workers and families. But that’s not all that defines our region.
Pittsburgh is a place where no person, organization, or leader tackles issues alone. This year was defined by strategically aligned public-private partnerships and industry collaboration that drove growth across our economy in a way that is uniquely Pittsburgh. These partnerships didn’t happen by chance – the Allegheny Conference created a table where business, government, and community leaders can collaborate to align vision and accelerate action.
Energizing our economy
This year, our Energy Policy Committee brought together leaders from across the region to tackle urgent energy challenges. Formed to address urgent challenges in energy security and resource adequacy, the Committee united leaders from across industry and innovation—including representatives from Duquesne Light, Covestro, EQT, CNX, Peoples Natural Gas, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Westinghouse.
The Committee ultimately forged consensus on a “Build Now and For the Future” strategy that balances necessary immediate action with long-term vision for energy security and sustainability. In short, the strategy leverages our region’s energy generation shortfall for long-term economic opportunity. The Conference will put this plan to action in 2026 by focusing on advocacy and regulatory frameworks.
Bipartisan government alignment enabling a business-friendly environment
The Conference worked hand-in-hand with Governor Shapiro, our state delegation, and local officials from both sides of the aisle to drive conditions for business growth. Initiatives like the PA SITES and SPEED programs were advanced through bipartisan cooperation, accelerating investment and job creation across the region. July’s Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University would not have provided our region with the spotlight for innovation and collaboration but for bipartisan alignment and the forethought of Senator McCormick.
Network connectors driving business attraction
This year also marked the launch of a new committee formed to drive cross-cluster collaboration for the common mission of growing our region’s economy. Led by a network of 10 organizations, the Network Connectors Committee exemplifies how the Conference and the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance are leveraging trusted relationships to open doors for high-potential prospects in high-growth industries. By consistently highlighting the region’s advantages and building bridges between companies, universities, and government, we’re converting promising leads into real investment and showing the world why Pittsburgh is the place for their next move.
Regional investors and partners amplifying our mission
We welcomed 27 new businesses to our Regional Investor Council – a group that continues to believe in the Pittsburgh region’s value proposition and in the work of the Conference. We welcomed globally recognized brands like Duolingo and Airbnb, alongside regional mission-driven organizations like RIDC and Innovation Works. Seven new board members also joined our mission in 2025, including Ken Scaggs of Aon, Diana Bucco of The Buhl Foundation, Nate Levin of Shell Polyers Monaca, Jim Scalo of NAI Burns Scalo, Dan Sumner of Westinghouse, Andrew Enrietti of Viatris, and Neil Churman of Woolpert.
Together, these moments, milestones, and partnerships are shaping what’s next for our 10-county region in a time of economic upheaval. By building networks and aligning priorities, we’re creating the conditions for long-term growth and innovation