A Message from Greg Flisram, Executive Director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority Of Pittsburgh on COVID-19 Impact

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 16, 2020) – Out of concern for the health and wellness of our employees in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in support of effective social distancing measures as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Mayor Peduto’s Executive Order, the URA will be implementing virtual work procedures beginning Monday, March 16, through Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

Although the 412 Blvd. of the Allies office building is closed to the public and our employees will be working remotely, I want to be clear that essential URA functions will remain fully operational. We have established a work-from-home protocol for all divisions to ensure the needs of URA borrowers and partners are met. URA staff will be online, phone calls received will be forwarded, and meetings will be conducted remotely as necessary.

We are aware of the hardships and needs that many of our small business borrowers and local small businesses are facing due to COVID-19. We want to reassure our small business borrowers that we are here to help. Please contact us if you have a loan from the URA and are seeking relief. If you are not one of our borrowers, resources are available and information on assistance can be found here.

In addition, we anticipate that beginning Monday, March 23, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh will be operating a URA Housing Opportunity Fund-sponsored program that will help households who are struggling with rent payments due to COVID-19-related losses in work and wages. City of Pittsburgh residents can call the Urban League at 412.227.4164.

We will be posting URA-related updates and resources to a centralized COVID-19 webpage on the URA’s website, accessible at https://www.ura.org/pages/covid-19, via our homepage, and via links shared on our social channels.

The URA remains committed to transparency and to our obligations under the Sunshine Act, and we are also striving to act in accordance with guidance from public health experts and the City of Pittsburgh’s ban on all meetings of more than 50 people. Accordingly, the URA is currently planning to hold its Regular Board Meeting scheduled for March 19 at 2:00 p.m. as a call-in and virtual meeting only. Information on the agenda for this meeting, and instructions for public comment, will be made available on our centralized COVID-19 webpage.

These are unusual times and it is important now more than ever we work together and support each other. We will continue to work with our government partners to help provide relief for City businesses and residents in this time of need.