$3.3M state investment aims to boost Downtown Pittsburgh revival

Megan Trotter TribLive Thu, Mar 12, 2026 • 12:50 PM

Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, delivers opening remarks at a news conference announcing the state’s $3 million investment in Downtown. Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato are on Waldrup’s left and state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, is at right. (Megan Trotter | TribLive)

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is getting more than $3 million from the state to help revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh.

Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger joined local government officials and business leaders inside Origin Story Coffee on Thursday to announce how the investment plans to renew the Golden Triangle into a new hub for economic development.

“This is stimulating economic growth and partnerships that are driving transformation throughout Downtown,” said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

The Shapiro administration’s $3.32 million investment is through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), which is a tax credit program to encourage businesses to invest in projects that improve distressed areas. It will be allocated to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership over the next six years.

In January 2025, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership outlined a three-year strategic plan to revitalize the city’s Golden Triangle by increasing retail occupancy by 10% and eventually doubling the number of people living Downtown.

The investment aids ongoing plans to bolster the city and finish development projects prior to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, April 23-25.

Last week, city and county officials outlined projects expected to be completed ahead of the draft, including a $15 million facelift for Market Square and the construction of a new outdoor civic space called Arts Landing, located in the Cultural District.

On Thursday, Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor said that Downtown, with help from the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, has successfully filled between 50 and 55 storefronts ahead of the draft.

“A small local business like (Origin Story Coffee) is one of the hardest things to do. So with more impact we can have from government to support them, the more dreamers that we’re gonna have Downtown to fill those other storefronts,” O’Connor said.

Christian Watts opened Origin Story Coffee on Smithfield Street in December 2025 after a hurricane destroyed his businesses in Nashville.

“The Neighborhood Assistance Program and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership represents rebuilding for me … a gigantic relief on the front end trying to start a new business in a new place,” Watts said.