WELCOME LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

One Region. One Voice.

In 2021, the phrase served as a call to action as our region prepared to emerge from the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related recession. It was a rallying cry, but also a roadmap to recovery.

Public and private sector leaders across ten counties came together to assess the challenges and opportunities ahead of our region, agree on a way forward and work together to make it happen. As you will read in this report to our Regional Investors, we advocated for federal investment in physical and digital infrastructure. But we did more than lobby. We set priorities and made the case for our region to serve as a national model for investment that can lead to economic growth, equity and climate resilience.

One Region. One Voice. applied as well to our approach to economic development. We have worked with partners for more than 25 years on behalf of ten counties to attract business investment across southwestern Pennsylvania. In 2021, despite an ongoing pandemic that chilled business travel, we elevated a new regional brand, Pittsburgh Region. Next is Now, and our team generated 36 business expansions and attractions, on par with the best of our pre-pandemic years.

And, coming together as One Region. One Voice., we laid the foundation for future investment and growth, making real progress toward corporate tax reform in Pennsylvania, a long-term goal to lower a “red flag” that discourages business investment and job creation in our region and across the Commonwealth.

Plenty of uncertainty remains. The pandemic is not over. Supply chains remain disrupted, and business travel has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. The Russian invasion of Ukraine – a despicable act by any measure – poses many questions about the economic future. But, by working together, we will overcome these challenges and set a global example for regional resilience, as we have done for decades.

One Region. One Voice. It is more than a slogan. It is the Pittsburgh Way. And together we will create a bright future for everyone who lives here and everyone we will welcome in years to come.