Program: Launch Millvale

Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative

The Millvale Ecodistrict represents the work and effort carried out by the Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative, the Millvale Community, and evolveEA.

The Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative consists of representatives from the Millvale Community Library, the Borough of Millvale, the Millvale Community Development Corporation (MCDC), and New Sun Rising.  This coordinated team of people and organizations is committed to support and fulfill the Millvale Ecodistrict Plan.

The Millvale Ecodistict is led by In 2012, with the development of the Millvale Ecodistrict Pivot 1.0 Plan, the community came together to tackle three key issue areas: Food because of their status as a food desert, Water due to a frequent history of damaging floods, and Energy due the health and economic benefits.

Three years later, the community had been hard at work collaborating both internally as well as with regional partners and making significant progress on the community’s goals: With over 70% of the goals from the first iteration of their plan complete, the community turned its attention to the future by kicking off Millvale Ecodistrict Pivot 2.0 planning activities. Expanding its focus to Air because of the poor air quality in Allegheny County, Mobility due to lack of infrastructure for multimodal transportation, and Equity which ties the other quality of life priorities together to ensure fairness in access to these quality of life resources.

On October 26th, 2015, over 80 residents and community stakeholders came together to Imagine Millvale.  Through the Millvale Ecodistrict Pivot 2 Plan, the community created the following vision statements which guide development activities:

Solar Workforce + Education Program

The Solar Workforce + Education Program is located at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub, and includes a variety of learning and training programs. The Hub’s state-of-the art 26 kwH microgrid, coupled with an advanced power control system, building automation, and Energy Discovery Zone, serves as a learning tool for a wide range of abilities, age ranges, and interests: from the casual to highly technical.

The facility offers opportunities for students, adults, and industry professionals to examine the emerging role of clean, renewable energy in promoting sustainability, career pathways, and reducing the damage caused to our environment and health by carbon-based energy generation.

The Solar Energy Workforce + Education Program consists of:

  • Solar Energy Workforce offers training, certification, and hands on experience with a professional solar installer to prepare small, local electrical contractors and others for entry into the growing clean energy industry

    Interested in Becoming a Solar Installer? Submit an Interest Form

  • Teen Solar Fellowship introduces students to the technical skills, career experiences, and valuable connections that can help them to succeed in the installation industry or as a stepping stone to higher education.
  • Energy Discovery Zone provides educational opportunities through microgrid system demonstration, solar and electrical STEM learning tools, and an interactive microgrid dashboard for teens, adults, and industry professionals

 

 

The project is spearheaded by New Sun Rising and Moose MODE Inc, in partnership with the Triboro Ecodistrict and Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative. Funding provided by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation. System contractors include: EIS Solar, Steel City Energy Conservation, Sigma Luminous, GRID Institute at University of Pittsburgh, and AYA Instruments.

Solar Workforce Training Flier-1
 Status of PA's Solar Workforce(5)

Millvale Food + Energy Hub

UPDATE: Due to a significant electrical fire in our basement on January 30, 2023, the Millvale Food + Energy Hub is temporarily closed. We are grateful for the quick response of tenants and first responders who kept the fire from reaching the first floor and ensured the safety of everyone onsite. That being said, smoke damage is extensive throughout the building and we have begun the restoration and renovation process. NSR and our partners are committed to work together and bring this important community space back as quickly and safely as possible.

Donate to the Fire Recovery Fund

New Sun Rising and Moose MODE, Inc. transformed a 10,000 square foot former Moose Lodge into the Millvale Food + Energy Hub.  This solar powered facility serves as a cafe, food rescue, co-working, public and private event, job training, and gathering space.  As a project which prioritizes reuse throughout renovation and operations, the Millvale Food + Energy Hub helps to advance goals of the community-led Millvale Ecodistrict and Triboro Ecodistrict.

The Hub has two rental rooms available in the upstairs Cafe or lower level Purple Onion for your next nonprofit or business event, small conference, family or friends gathering, baby shower, wedding, or wake.  We especially love working with musicians and creatives. Get in touch via the rental inquiry form below and let’s work together!

The vision of this project is to create an inspiring, informative, and welcoming place where the community can explore ways to create a more sustainable, vibrant, and resilient future for all people and the planet.

Rent the Millvale Food + Energy Hub

Learn about the Solar Workforce Development + Education Program

Learn about our Solar DC Microgrid

Tenants

 

Funding

  • First National Bank, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Neighborhood Allies, Borough of Millvale, The Heinz Endowments, The Hillman Foundation, Allegheny County Economic Development, United States Federal Community Project Funding, New Sun Rising

Launch Millvale

Launch Millvale is an civic innovation lab, where socially focused entrepreneurs create new opportunities around the food, energy, water, air, mobility, and equity goals of the community.

Meet the Projects

 

Vibrant Communities Focus

Initially building the local food system, Launch Millvale broadened to support sustainability leaders activating the Millvale EcoDistrict Pivot 2.0 Plan. The EcoDistricts community planning process, led by partner and

renowned Pittsburgh firm evolveEA, brings together citizens, neighborhood organizations, businesses, and local government to develop a unified vision for their community.

Social enterprises and initiatives supported by Launch Millvale receive services such as fiscal sponsorship, growth strategy, and funding. Activities are coordinated by Zaheen Hussain, the Millvale Sustainability Coordinator and NSR Director of Sustainability, in collaboration with the partners of the Millvale EcoDistrict Collaborative (Millvale Community Library, the Borough of Millvale, Millvale Community Development Corporation, and New Sun Rising).

Urban Growers Cooperative

Using the concepts of the food hub movement and drawing inspiration from models used in cities across the country, the Pittsburgh Urban Growers Cooperative (PUGC) has emerged through the leadership of Pittsburgh Food Policy Council (PFPC), Healcrest Urban Farm and Grow Pittsburgh as a way to address the primary gaps in our urban farming system and make it more economically sustainable to be an urban farmer so that more may enter the field and find success. The PUGC steering committee formed in Fall 2015 and teamed up with New Sun Rising to explore the opportunity. The PUGC is exploring new funding and is prepping to launch in Spring 2017.
In the last 10 years, urban farming has experienced a huge surge in popularity, but the reality is that earning a sustainable income from urban farming remains a dream for most practitioners across the country, including in Pittsburgh. The appetite for local produce in Pittsburgh is high and growing, with chefs and other consumers consistently indicating a preference for local produce grown by farmers they know and trust. However, the small scale of urban farms makes it challenging to supply the consistency and quantity that these consumers require.
While many propose scaling up urban farms so they can compete with larger, rural producers, the “micro-farms” propagating in the urban environment have many advantages including small workforces and low overhead, flexible product lines, and very low transportation costs. Furthermore, these spaces provide important opportunities for supplemental income and part-time employment for many urban dwellers, many of whom would not have the transportation to reach rural farms.
In order to fully realize its objectives, the PUGC wish to include and elevate all urban growers who wish to build more economically, environmentally, and physically/emotionally sustainable farm businesses. If you are an urban grower in or around Pittsburgh who grows or raises food for sale – now or in the future – please provide us with more information about your project by taking this survey.

Plated Trade

Fine dining for anywhere.

Plated Trade is a new style food service from Chef David Bulman, cooking up locally sourced and prepared meals directly to consumers in non-traditional community settings, such as their homes and creative community spaces.

Offering a wide variety of services including Chefs Tasting Menus, catering, public/private cooking classes, and personally prepared meals; Plated Trade high quality local food and education in the setting of your choice.

The Gardens of Millvale

The Gardens of Millvale is a volunteer-led community garden that has provided growing, volunteer, and educational opportunities in this food desert since 2010. The team of Denise Rudar and Stephanie Davis lead the Gardens of Millvale and they look to establish sustainable operations, create job opportunities, and connect growers with local businesses and Millvale’s new food hub to strengthen the local food system.

Sprezzatura

The creative team of Jen Saffron and Paul Labrise are busy providing memorable catering events and crafting their storefront concept for the Millvale Moose. Sprezzatura aims to create a warm, comfortable third space with affordable, delicious home cooked real Italian food.

Steel City Soils

Steel City Soils closes the loop in our cluster by recycling food waste and creating only the highest quality compost for use at urban farms. Owner Jeff Newman is applying what he has learned from six years in the compost business, and is growing his enterprise to provide even more compost for additional farms and communities.

Three Rivers Grown

Connecting buyers and producers. Simplifying the food chain.  Growing our food community.

Three Rivers Grown began in 2014 by taking a different approach to strengthening the food system by helping farmers get their produce to market by connecting them directly with wholesale markets, supermarkets, and to other businesses.  Nathan Holmes and Abby Long also support the supply chain logistics required to support small to medium sized family farms within a 250 mile radius around Pittsburgh, and bring fresh, healthy products to the businesses and people of our region.

Tupelo Honey Teas

Tupelo Honey Teas was founded by Danielle Spinola in 2007, and has been sharing her unique and lovingly blended teas with the Pittsburgh region ever since. Always exploring new horizons for her business, Danielle has recently opened a vegetarian/vegan tea shop & community gathering place, adjacent to the Millvale Community Library.

Recalling her first meeting with Scott Wolovich, she glows with excitement. Wolovich invited her to take part in Launch Millvale and, through this mentorship Tupelo Honey Teas Cafe was realized. The cafe kitchen is helmed by Millvale resident & chef Stephanie Davis, using produce from the Gardens of Millvale in the scratch kitchen, as well as growing & drying its own teas.

Farm Truck Foods

Farm Truck Foods bridges the gap between farmers and community members through access to whole, nutritious, affordable and local foods in a way that engages and unites neighbors.