Happenings in Pittsburgh!! (York, Chester, Greensburg: loans, lawyers, townhouses)

[Seaharbour]

Those are some cool links guylocke, thanks!

[guylocke]

Here is something interesting, but if you want to discuss it in length, please use another thread. City council, in a 7-1 vote, officially requested that the state review the distressed status and act 47 that Pittsburgh has been under since 2003 in the hopes that it will be lifted.

Interesting.. is Pittsburgh holding it's own?

City asks state to end distressed status

Pittsburgh City Council gave final approval today to a resolution asking the state to consider lifting the distressed status and extra Act 47 fiscal oversight the city has labored under since 2003.

The 7-1 vote, with only Councilman William Peduto against, goes to state Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky. If he approves it, it "becomes the official application to withdraw from Act 47," said Councilman Jim Motznik.

"I'm hopeful that the secretary will make a determined effort and treat us fairly," said Council President Doug Shields.

[guylocke]

Wow, standing ovation for UPMC.

UPMC's promise: $100M for grads - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will announce today a promise to donate $100 million over 10 years for a plan to help graduates of city schools go to college.
Introduced last year, the tuition assistance plan called The Pittsburgh Promise had attracted only a $10,000 gift from the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers before UPMC's commitment.

"This is potentially a historic occasion for the city of Pittsburgh," said city schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt. "The only way we'll get Pittsburgh back to the glory days is by dreaming big and working hard."

UPMC, which posted profits of $618 million last year, is giving $10 million in scholarships for 2008 graduates and $90 million over nine years as part of a challenge grant to create an endowment of $250 million.
The endowment would provide $15 million a year in scholarships for the district's 2,000 high school seniors, Roosevelt said.

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he and Roosevelt approached UPMC about six months ago to fund The Pittsburgh Promise. Those talks produced a "gentleman's agreement" three months ago that evolved into today's announcement.

He said the program will attract families to move into the city and stop some families from moving out.

Ravenstahl said UPMC won't get anything in return from the city for making the donation. He acknowledged failing to have the program running in time for this year's class of students, as he promised in December 2006.

[guylocke]

Pitt just received the largest individual donation in it's 220-year history (over 41 million) - renames Engineering school in honor.

Pitt to rename school for donor - Pittsburgh Business Times:

The University of Pittsburgh said Wednesday it had received a $41.3 million donation -- the largest by an individual donor in the school's 220-year history -- and said it would rename its engineering school in honor of the grantee.

ANSYS Inc. founder and former CEO John A. Swanson, an alumnus of Pitt's school of engineering, made the donation. His alma mater will be renamed the John A. Swanson School of Engineering.

"We are exceedingly fortunate that John Swanson -- who not only is recognized as one of the world's leading engineers, but also is one of our most loyal and generous supporters -- has chosen to make an extraordinary investment in the future of engineering education at Pitt," Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg said in a statement. Nordenberg said a portion of Swanson's donation will also be used for a renovation of Benedum Hall, the academic home of Pitt's School of Engineering.

[Seaharbour]

to help graduates of city schools go to college.


and if you live in a suburb, you get no help?

I fail to see how great this is here...there are alot of poor folks who live in the burbs too, or am i missing something here? If i read this wrongly here, I do apoloize for that!

[guylocke]

Duquesne University (where I go) is adding more to the robust biotechnology portfolio in Pittsburgh. This can only be more good news.

Duquesne to offer new degree - Pittsburgh Business Times:

Duquesne University's Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences will offer a Master of Science Degree in Biotechnology.

The school received approval from the state in the spring. Dr. Alan W. Seadler, the Edward V. Fritzky Chair in Biotechnology Leadership at the university, will be program director.

The program is designed to train students who have received undergraduate science degrees for careers in research and development, product development or project management in the life sciences industry.

"The M.S. in biotechnology offers our graduate students a new dimension of learning. By increasing their scientific knowledge and by learning fundamental business and communication skills, they will be better equipped in this competitive job market," David Seybert, dean of the Bayer School, said in a statement.

Classes for the new degree begin next spring.

[guylocke]

to help graduates of city schools go to college.


and if you live in a suburb, you get no help?

I fail to see how great this is here...there are alot of poor folks who live in the burbs too, or am i missing something here? If i read this wrongly here, I do apoloize for that!

Because it's the city schools that need the most help and UPMC is out of the city (Oakland). I'm not sure why they would have a personal responsibility to fund the suburbs. Besides, before this announcement, that is 100 million dollars less that these students DIDN'T have. Why not just be happy for the student's who can get it, which is a whole lot. I think your backlash is wholly unappreciative toward UPMC who is being extraordinarily generous. This IS a donation, after all, UPMC is getting nothing in return.

[Seaharbour]

Because I had to work my way through college (2 jobs)and had nothing handed to me, and I really could of used some help back then, it just seems UNfair to me personally.

[guylocke]

Because I had to work my way through college (2 jobs)and had nothing handed to me, and I really could of used some help back then, it just seems UNfair to me personally.

That was back then, this is now. Are we supposed to punish every generation thereafter and refuse this exceptional donation because you had a bad experience? I could of used the money, too, but I'm not complaining, I think it's wonderful, especially for the children.

[Seaharbour]

Well even today it will help some and not others, so yea its not fair in my honest opinion here..what bout the poor in rural areas? Some of the poorest schools are out in timbuck2....

It was not really a bad experience, it was actually character building and good for me to work for my college tuition imho.