Green Jobs Strategy and Cluster Analysis
For the Allegheny River Towns Enterprise Zone
Redevelopment Economics and CWS Consulting were co-leads in a recently completed project to
develop a green job strategy and cluster analysis for Allegheny River Towns Enterprise
Zone (ARTEZ), seven cities and townships along the Allegheny River north of Pittsburgh. The
strategy focused ARTEZ resources on expanding existing green product lines and attracting targeted
new business to the Zone with a set of tools including key area assets and resources, incentives, and
the Zone’s own revolving loan fund.
Consulting Team:

Evans Paull, Redevelopment Economics, brownfields and strategic economic development
specialist, www.redevelopmenteconomics.com

Chris Steele, CWS Consulting, site selection and economic development specialist,
http://www.cwsgrp.com/

Rayo Bhumgara, Sustainable Strategies 2050, sustainable property reuse specialist,
http://www.sustain2050.com/

Richard Greene, renewable energy specialist, http://www.linkedin.com/in/richardkgreene
The project involved:
1. Economic Analysis - test regional strength in green job-related sectors


Employment trends in green-related sectors; identify strengths to build on
o Shift-Share and Location Quotient Analysis
Regional competitiveness analysis
o Comparison to “Fourteen Competitor” cities/regions through site location rating
system
o Competitor location targeting of green business and regional competitive 'green'
industrial parks
2. Current Business Base – assess potential for expansion from within
 Current base of green jobs – identify potential for expansion
 Business relationships, supplier networks
 Conventional businesses adding sustainability elements and new green product lines
3. Assess Green Assets – ARTEZ area and Pittsburgh region
 Research and tech transfer
o University research institutes
o Federal research facility - National Energy Technology Laboratory
o Tech transfer support
 Labor and training resources - Job training, community colleges, Vo-tech schools
 Inventory federal, state, and local incentives applicable to green jobs


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o Renewable energy incentives
o Economic development incentives
Public sector and “leading by example”
o Public green buildings
o Purchasing/procurement policies
o Municipal operations, fleet management, building management
Marketing and communications for green jobs – government and private/non-profit economic
development resources
Natural features, trails, green infrastructure
4. Assessment of ARTEZ Sites – assess potential to match up with growth opportunities
5. Strategies and Policies
 Expand from within through business retention, concentrating on sustainable manufacturing
and other businesses that are expanding in green tech areas
o Support expansion through financial and non-financial support (sites, brownfield
issues, workforce, permitting, and tie-ins to governmental “green purchasing”)
 Marketing for relocations from outside the region
o Outside companies who have similar drivers as the cluster
o Outside companies who can benefit from interfacing with other companies in the
cluster
 Support start-ups and small business growth
 Maximizing area green assets – consider creating a green tech cluster as a vehicle for more
strategic green tech economic development and marketing activities
 Funding sources to support green tech business expansion and relocation
o Renewable energy
o Economic development
 Funding sources for project implementation
 Structuring and targeting the ARTEZ Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) for maximum impact
 Identify potential funding sources to supplement the ARTEZ RLF
o Foundations
o Union pension investments
o Utility investment programs
 Policy issues for state and local government – modify incentives and re-tool marketing
programs to better respond to green business opportunities.
Evans Paull,
ev@redevelopmenteconomics.com
202-329-4282
Chris Steele, chris.steele@CWSgrp.com
617-314-6527