Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh Announces Departure of Executive Director Greg Flisram

PITTSBURGH, PA (November 23, 2022) The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) announced today that Executive Director Greg Flisram will depart the organization at the end of the calendar year to return to the private sector as a consultant with a national planning practice. 
 
Flisram began his three-year tenure at the URA in January 2020, centering its economic development strategy around affordable housing, entrepreneurial support, and wealth-building throughout the City.
 
“I want to thank Greg for his years of dedicated service to the URA and the City of Pittsburgh,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “Under his leadership, the URA has helped make our neighborhoods more welcoming, and he helped to create new opportunities for our local MWBE businesses to thrive. We appreciate his dedication and wish him luck in his future endeavors.”  

Just a few months into his tenure, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak charged the organization to pivot its programming towards economic relief and recovery for struggling businesses and residents. Under his leadership, the URA also launched Avenues of Hope, OwnPGH, and other mission-critical initiatives and incubated the City of Pittsburgh’s first publicly-affiliated Community Development Financial Institution, InvestPGH.
 
“We have open and honest conversations with the community and developers to ensure the catalytic change we all say we want to see in the City of Pittsburgh occurs,” said Flisram. “The decision to resign was a difficult one that I have been pondering with growing resolve for the past several months. The last few years have been trying for us all, and I have come to learn much about myself and what really drives me through the process,” said Flisram. “My appreciation for the URA staff has grown tremendously, and I continue to be inspired by their dedication to serving the Pittsburgh community.”
 
Former Mayor William Peduto named Flisram URA Executive Director after a months-long national search with over 100 candidates.  “I thank Greg for his service in leading the URA while navigating a multitude of challenges during COVID. Under his leadership, the URA team was able to quickly pivot to deliver much-needed support to businesses and residents throughout the City. The URA has experienced many leadership changes since its existence and has not had any interruptions in serving the community.” said Sam Williamson, former URA Board Chair.
 
“On behalf of the entire URA Board, I would like to thank Greg for his leadership in navigating the URA through a tremendous period of change for the organization as well as the challenges presented to all of us by the pandemic. We wish him all the best during this next chapter of his career and know that he is excited to return to the private sector as an urban planning consultant,” said URA Board Chair, Kyle Chintalapalli. “We share his faith and confidence in the entire team of dedicated public servants at the URA who work tirelessly every day towards a more just and equitable Pittsburgh.”

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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.