URA Awarded $3.5 Million in Funding for Fairywood Industrial Park Expansion

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 20, 2022) The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) was approved for a $1.4 million grant and a $2.1 million loan as part of the Business in Our Sites (BOS) program to assist in the expansion of the Fairywood Industrial Park located in the City of Pittsburgh. The URA received its full request of $3.5 million.

Governor Tom Wolf announced that Fairywood Industrial Park was one of the nine BOS projects, totaling $48,710,441 in grants and loans, approved through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). The BOS projects will empower communities and economic development partners to attract expanding businesses to Pennsylvania, by building an inventory of ready sites.

"This project will be a catalyst for new investment and job opportunities in and around the southwestern part of our City," said URA Executive Director Greg Flisram. “I want to thank Governor Tom Wolf and the CFA for this generous investment, and State Senator Wayne Fontana, State Representative Dan Deasy, Mayor Ed Gainey, Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, and our partners at RIDC for their support of the Fairywood project.”

In June 2022, the Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern PA (RIDC) and URA announced that Ferguson Enterprises, LLC, a plumbing, HVAC and industrial product distributor, signed a lease for the new 150,000-square-foot, single-user warehouse to be constructed at Fairywood Industrial, a 25-acre site in the Fairywood neighborhood.

Earlier this year, RIDC and URA entered into a partnership agreement to develop the site, previously a public housing development that has been vacant since it was damaged by a hurricane over 15 years ago. This is the first of RIDC’s and URA’s two-phase development project targeting distribution uses. 

"We are excited that Fairywood Park and our communities in the West End of Pittsburgh are receiving this critical funding," said Mayor Gainey. "This funding will help us grow pathways towards prosperity with new economic opportunities and jobs. We are very thankful for Governor Tom Wolf, State Senator Wayne Fontana, and State Representative Dan Deasy for helping us to secure this investment in our city." 

"This is another exciting win for this project," said Council President Theresa Kail-Smith. "I want to thank Governor Wolf, Senator Fontana and Representative Deasy for this funding award and their support. I also want to thank Mayor Gainey and the URA for focusing on how this project can provide a host of community benefits to the Fairywood community.”

The $3.5 million in BOS funds will support Fairywood Industrial Park site development, including demolition, earthwork, placement of critical site utilities, ground improvements, asphalt paving, landscaping, placement of fencing, and site concrete. 

Site work is scheduled to begin in October 2022. The project is expected to create 50 jobs in 2023 and 100-180 jobs in total within five years.

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About the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA)
The URA is the City of Pittsburgh's economic development agency, supporting the City’s economic development goals, which are designed to create a city of inclusive opportunity for residents, stakeholders, and communities. The URA is committed to creating more housing that is affordable to the average Pittsburgher; encouraging more entrepreneurship and small business development; promoting inclusive growth and quality job creation; expanding neighborhood and main streets revitalization efforts; and developing a talented workforce that is equipped with the skills of the future.