The Washington County Chamber of Commerce is among a growing number of organizations that have chosen downtown Pittsburgh to showcase opportunity across southwestern Pennsylvania. The business membership organization recently hosted a reception on the rooftop of Dollar Bank’s new headquarters at 20 Stanwix Street with its commanding views of the Mon River and Mount Washington on the edge of downtown.
1.6M
total monthly visitors to downtown Pittsburgh in August 2023
10
regional county partners
“As the largest chamber in the Greater Pittsburgh Region, we wanted to recognize our members in Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh, one of them being Dollar Bank,” said Jeff Kotula, president. “We hosted that event as an opportunity to invite people from all over the region to enjoy a beautiful evening on a rooftop in the city … and encourage businesses to meet and collaborate throughout the region.”
The economic and cultural connections between Pittsburgh and Washington County are long and deep, with thriving energy, healthcare, and tech industries along the I-79 corridor. Washington is the third most populous county in the 10-county Pittsburgh region after Allegheny and Westmoreland, with a growing population of 209,349 as of the 2020 census. Kotula notes that many visitors to Washington County from outside the region are business travelers.
We have a vested interest in a thriving core because what’s good for the city is good for our region. The revitalization of downtown Pittsburgh “shouldn’t be an ‘if’, it should be ‘it has to’ – we have to come together to have a vibrant downtown; all of us need to contribute to the city and to the region. Our roads run both ways, whether for work or amenities."
— Jeff Kotula
Kotula stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in driving the long-term successes of Washington County from the development of Southpointe to the construction of the Southern Beltway to the airport. He noted that Pittsburgh needs to borrow from its own historic playbook, “Government and the business community need to come together, not to point fingers but to develop the strong relationships required to make things happen together.”
So, what does a Washington County leader, such as Jeff Kotula, really like about downtown Pittsburgh?
“I enjoy the cultural amenities, our sports teams, taking the family to plays or shows, and enjoying special evenings out. Something amazing that I value here is the people and their friendliness. No matter where you are, you can find people with common values that you can be comfortable around. There really are no strangers in this region.”