New Sun Rising receives $22,000 grant for community hub development

Posted on by Alyse Horn

The funding from Wells Fargo Foundation will support job creation, small business growth, and $187 million of impact in the Greater Pittsburgh region.

Pittsburgh, PA — To continue advancing their community hub development and small business support program, New Sun Rising has been granted $22,000 from the Wells Fargo Foundation to sustain an initiative that has supported 46 local small businesses, created 379 temporary and permanent jobs, connected $3.5 million of investment, and supported 147,910 sq. ft. of locally-driven development to date. 

The initiative will support job creation and small business growth through four community resource hubs located at:

  • 216 North Ave, Millvale, PA in partnership with Millvale Community Development Corporation
  • 120 Millbridge St, Pittsburgh, PA in partnership with Studio AM and Cave Elephant
  • 600 Beltzhoover Ave, Pittsburgh, PA in partnership with South Hilltop Men’s Group and Hilltop Rising
  • 1140 Kirkpatrick Ave, North Braddock, PA in partnership with General Sisters and NEBRS

Their collaborative approach transforms vacant and blighted spaces into key drivers of opportunity through: on the job training for the trades, access to capital and government contract compliance, and technical assistance for small businesses. 

“The way infrastructure is developed has a big influence on the vibrancy of any community,” said Scott Wolovich, Executive Director of New Sun Rising who also leads their real estate work. ”When designed to activate local people, spaces can become training and small business resource centers for growth. We’re grateful for the support of the Wells Fargo Foundation to make these projects a reality.”

Since 2005, New Sun Rising has incubated small businesses and built regional infrastructure that transitions communities from being the backdrop on which development occurs, to becoming active drivers of their own opportunity. 

In the Active Economy, regional development moves beyond dependence on any single site, large-scale project to a more resilient, diversified cluster-driven model. Recent research shows that Active Economy projects produce jobs more efficiently with a higher return on investment than large-scale megaprojects. The real estate, workforce, and small businesses supported through this Wells Fargo Foundation grant are projected to generate over $164 million in Gross Regional Product and an additional $23 million in social value to the region over 20 years.

About New Sun Rising: NSR supports local leaders with the skills, funding, connections, and data to build vibrant communities throughout Greater Pittsburgh. They are building towards a future where all communities are vibrant places of culture, sustainability, and opportunity.

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