As part of a development strategy for the re-designation and expansion of the Enterprise
Zone, we’re looking to build on successful “green businesses”, in the area like Liberty
Tire Recycling and Fossil Free Fuels and the new urban farming taking place. The EZCB
will explore all sectors of the environmental industry – recycling, clean energy,
sustainable architecture and green buildings for their future investment potential.
Environmental industry clusters – comprised of businesses that have low environmental
impact by making efficient use of resources – have huge economic potential. By building
on the success of existing “green” businesses and establishing conditions to attract new
businesses, the EZCB has an opportunity to create a viable new business sector in the
area.
Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC, the largest of existing green businesses, is headquartered in
Braddock. The company has ten (10) collection/processing locations and four (4) other
satellite collection operations in nine (9) states. Seventy million of the nation’s 300
million tires (23%) are collected by Liberty Tire. The Braddock facility was acquired
from Recovery Technologies Group in late 2006 and the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) recently transferred the operating permit to Liberty Tire.
Employment has been doubled from 16 to 32 in 2007. Liberty Tire’s proposed Braddock
Zero Waste Project to recover and recycle all waste products from tires has received
attention from State officials and the EZCB. Expansion is being discussed.
Fossil Free Fuel, LLC, which began operation in Braddock in 2007, is a two-person startup that designs and installs fuel systems for diesel vehicles to operate on processed
vegetable oil. The owners relocated from Allentown, PA due to the existence of other
local businesses and nonprofits committed to alternative energy. Fossil Free Fuel is
working to expand operations, provide input into green workforce development, create
jobs for local residents, and form public-private partnerships to increase awareness of
clean energy alternatives.
Braddock Farms, a non-profit social enterprise of Grow Pittsburgh and Penn State
Cooperative Extension of Allegheny County, began operation of an urban farm in 2007
on formerly vacant and delinquent property in Braddock. The Redevelopment Authority
of Allegheny County absorbed the liens and assumed title of the assembled property
through its Vacant Property Review Committee. The urban farm provides a source of
fresh, nutritious food to local residents while providing summer employment
opportunities for area youth. Grow Pittsburgh plans to expand operations onto other
vacant properties and develop a certification program to train the local workforce. In a
related venture, GTech Strategies, a division of Steel City Biofuels, is exploring
agricultural solutions to remediating toxic soil on vacant lots as a pre-development
strategy for creating safe, shovel-ready investment sites.
These examples are representative of “green” development opportunities that are already
having a unique, significant impact on the local economy. The ECZB will explore all
sectors of the environmental industry – recycling, clean energy, sustainable agriculture,
and green building – for their future investment potential. To seize this opportunity the
EZCB has commissioned a Green Coordinator, Allegheny Greenworks, to assist in
attracting new green businesses and to undertake a marketing outreach program that will
promote cost-saving, environmentally-sound practices for existing businesses. Already, a
number of business development opportunities have presented themselves and the EZCB
is actively assisting these efforts.
The 5th Business Roundtable, scheduled for May 1, 2008 at the Grand View Golf Club at
8:00 a.m. will focus on Green Development.