1. Promoting strategic investments into neighborhood collaborations

Successful neighborhoods don’t exist in a vacuum. PPND encourages next-door neighborhoods that share transit routes, schools, and business districts to pool their efforts. To reinforce that goal, the Partnership has raised $350,000 for three designated multi-neighborhood corridors. Our pre-development funds will fund strong CDCs to spur and direct changing real estate markets.

2. Fostering leadership and community engagement

Equity for all neighborhoods is a guiding principle of PPND. In Uptown, Hilltop and Homewood, PPND is introducing the community leaders of tomorrow to successful organizing strategies. With entry-level technical assistance from PPND and The Forbes Funds, Uptown Partners has expanded their capacity to address neighborhood issues and opportunities. The group, formed in 2005, seeks to spur development in the neighborhoods between downtown and Oakland. New mixed-use development by Duquesne University along Forbes Avenue, the construction of a new ice arena, and ongoing expansion at the University of Pittsburgh create market opportunities that residents are eager to seize.

The five Hilltop communities — Allentown, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Mt. Oliver Neighborhood and Mt. Oliver Borough — share problems of declining population, aging infrastructure, and crime. After cooperatively applying for federal Weed and Seed funds, neighborhood representatives participated in our Strategic Restructuring 101 course for guidance on achieving goals through collaboration. Groups from each community have now formally agreed to an alliance that aims to comprehensively address community development as partners. The collaboration between the Mt. Oliver Borough and the city neighborhoods is a small step towards city-county partnerships.

In 2008, we provided a suite of organizational development assistance to Homewood Brushton Community Coalition Organization (HBCCO) so HBCCO can clearly define its role and purpose in the ongoing revitalization of the Homewood neighborhood.

3. Expanding our expertise and funding into the region

PPND recognizes the synergy between the region and the city. Our urban core is important, but strong outlying communities are also essential to jobs and growth.

Some older urban and suburban centers in local counties have declined as development leapfrogged to the region’s edges. They now face the challenges of decay and disinvestment felt earlier within city limits.