LOWER HILL REDEVELOPMENT

F.N.B. Corporation, a partner in the Lower Hill team and anchor tenant in the FNB Financial Center, on Thursday, September 29, increased its total commitment to $1 million to the Pittsburgh Promise program. Five graduating Pittsburgh Public Schools seniors will be selected annually and named as the “F.N.B. Corporate Scholars of The Pittsburgh Promise.” They will have the opportunity to build mentoring and professional relationships with company leaders as they pursue their post-secondary degrees. 
 
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We were delighted to attend Mayor Gainey’s announcement on September 16, of the “Prepare to Prosper” program – a new partnership between the City and Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Career Technical Education Program, highlighting students focused on workforce development. Soon, they will move out of shadowing workers and begin paid internships not only with the city, but in other industries as well, according to Angela Mike, CTE’s Executive Director. The Lower Hill Redevelopment’s Buccini/Pollin Group is one of forty companies to have partnered with the PPS-CTE Program and held a “Career Exploration Day” event earlier this year at PPG Paints Arena with other members of the Development Team. We provided boots for the seniors going into the Carpenter’s Apprenticeship Program, paid senior EMT students’ drivers licenses to become an EMT, which helps to build a pipeline for the development and public safety in the region and especially the Lower Hill Development. In addition, the Lower Hill Team won an Industry Partner Award through both the Pittsburgh Penguin’s David Morehouse and The Buccini/Pollin Group’s Dr. Kimberly C Ellis, for our enthusiastic support and partnership. We will report in coming newsletters regarding exciting internship programs for 2023. 
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Members of the Development Team, family and friends attended Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company's presentation of August Wilson's classic drama, "Jitney" during its August - September run.  Performed in the back yard of the newly renovated August Wilson House, "Jitney", one of Wilson's earliest and most famous plays, drew crowds from near and far. 
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This was an especially special event for two members of the The Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG) as August Wilson is the maternal uncle of BPG's Director of Community, Arts and Culture, Dr. Kimberly C.  Ellis and BPG's VP of Business Development, Bomani Howze's father, Mr. Sala Udin, starred in the role he originated in the 1980's.
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The August Wilson House is a treasured community building in the Historic Hill District and childhood home of playwright, August Wilson. 

Tuesday, September 13, was a joyous day of food, fun and fellowship at the Historic Hill Community BBQ Celebration at the new Frankie Mae Pace Park, in the Lower Hill District. The event was catered by six Hill District businesses that spoiled us all----Z-Best BBQ’s succulent ribs, Beyond Blessed Catering Co.’s five cheese macaroni and cheese, Eminent Hospitality’s brisket and burgers, Phat Girlz a Cookin’s award-winning greens, Grandma Joan’s Italian iced lemonade and banana pudding, which left us all spoiled and full! Working together with The M Robinson Group, our Director of Community, Arts and Culture, Dr. Kimberly C. Ellis, put together a wonderful event with over 100 attendees enjoying games, dancing, conversation and even a pop-up scene from August Wilson’s 1982 play, “Jitney.” Representatives from the Lower Hill Redevelopment team: The Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG), Pittsburgh Penguins, and Clay Cove Capital welcomed community members to meet, informally, and provide the opportunity to learn more about what’s happening on the 28-acre Lower Hill District site and to join in on learning and the workforce, job and business resource hub---the Lower Hill First Source Center. Handouts on our Community Reinvestments and our M/WBE numbers were provided as well. Presentations were followed by a review of Block E contracting opportunities in the "Contractors Circle", with the construction team, featuring presentations by Boris Kaplan, Bomani Howze, Wesley Schwandt, Matt Corace and Olivia Grunseich of BPGS, as well as by M/WBE consultant e.Holdings and the Block E architect Desmone.
 
Thank you to community members, contractors, food vendors, partners, and friends for making this gathering a success, including the surprise performance by “Jitney” actors, Kevin Brown (Mr. Becker) and Jonathan Berry (Booster). A very special thank you to other Historic Hill District-based business vendors, including DJ Blakk Steel and Prestige Professional Cleaning, Thanks to Northside Tables and Chairs, Family Tent and Zters Port-a-Potty and CDI Printing.  

See all the pictures here!