Back From Asia, Mayor Calls Trip Successful

After a 10 day trip to China and Korea, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl called the trip a success and said it was laid the groundwork for attracting new businesses to settle in the region.

The mayor went with a delegation that included Dennis Yablonsky, CEO of the Allegheny Conference and Joe McGrath, CEO of Visit Pittsburgh.

Yablonsky said the trip was a success. The delegation met with companies they were already courting and with new companies. The companies are in the sectors the region is trying to grow: advanced manufacturing, financial services, energy, life sciences, health care and information and communication technology.

Yablonsky credits the G-20 Conference, held in Pittsburgh in September of 2009, for bringing attention to the "transformation" of the region. Ravenstahl said the G-20 summit "put Pittsburgh back into the global game." He said the trip did not cost taxpayers anything. He said he was not sure who paid for the trip.

The next step is for the companies to visit Pittsburgh and see all that the city has to offer.

Energy Alliance Formed

The Allegheny Conference on Community Development met yesterday for its annual meeting. The Conference announced the formation of the Energy Alliance of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The new Energy Alliance will work to find solutions to energy problems. The Energy Alliance will be guided by CEO's of energy related firms and universities as it tries to figure out how southwestern Pennsylvania can expand upon its strengths in the production of energy, specifically, coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar and wind energy through public funding and public policy.