A two-year $300,000 grant award from the KeyBank Foundation to Neighborhood Allies will support an investment strategy that is being developed to expand opportunity, improve resident satisfaction and confidence, and attract additional public/private capital in the Upper Hill.
Through this initiative, an Upper Hill District Healthy Neighborhood Action Plan will be produced and community revitalization projects will receive direct financial assistance and technical support. The Action Plan will be rooted in resident input, be informed my market realities and will honor the equitable revitalization principles outlined in the Greater Hill District Master Plan.
By working in close coordination with our Hill District based partners and through the formation of public-private partnerships, with the support of this grant, Neighborhood Allies will identify effective strategies, coordinate activities, and invest in projects and programs to help:
- Boost homeownership rates
- Stabilize homes
- Connect residents to promising employment opportunities
- Widen the capacity of neighborhood CDCs and
- Leverage additional resources to ensure long-term success in the Upper Hill District
“We’re pleased to support Neighborhood Allies and its community partners in the revitalization of Pittsburgh’s Upper Hill District,” said Todd Moules, Market President for KeyBank. “This neighborhood investment is a part of our commitment to improve the communities that we serve.”
This investment is part of KeyBank’s National Community Benefits Plan, which includes $16.5 billion in investments across the communities it serves, including in the Pittsburgh region. This community commitment is part of a comprehensive blueprint for steps Key is taking during the next five years in all its markets across the United States.
“The Hill District is a regional asset, and KeyBank’s support of equitable development opportunities will help assure that buildings are preserved for affordable homeownership,” said Marimba Milliones, President & CEO of Hill Community Development Corporation. “This thoughtful approach improves the community and will help to prevent displacement. Our thanks to KeyBank and our partnership with Neighborhood Allies that produced this positive focus on the people, places, and organizations of the Hill District!”
Neighborhood Allies President Presley Gillespie commented: “We are honored and excited to collaborate with the KeyBank Foundation and our Hill District partners to strengthen the equitable revitalization efforts of this remarkable neighborhood that is rooted in a richness of history and culture and a deep sense of community. Through this micro-market approach, we aim to improve the current economic conditions and quality of life of existing residents while setting the stage for future investments and welcoming newcomers into the neighborhood”.
