Appalachian Finance Hub Summit Draws 90 Leaders from Five States to Pittsburgh to Advance Regional Investment Strategy
- Carrie Mihalko, Heartland Capital Strategies
- Apr 17
- 4 min read
PITTSBURGH, PA, UNITED STATES, April 17, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Nearly 90 leaders from five Appalachian states gathered in Pittsburgh on April 2, 2025, for the Appalachian Finance Hub Summit, held downtown at the Energy Innovation Center. The event brought together elected leaders, investors, developers, businesses, universities, labor training, and policy organizations to explore the future of economic development and large-scale investments.
The summit, organized by the Steel Valley Authority (SVA), was part of a planning initiative funded by an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) ARISE grant awarded in November 2023. The Appalachian Finance Hub (Hub) seeks to accelerate durable economic development in mid- and upper Appalachia by building an ecosystem that connects high-impact community projects with private and public capital with the goal of generating and retaining good-paying jobs.
“The people of Appalachia know all too well what it means for communities to lose industry and manufacturing — for half the workers to abandon their homes in search of opportunity, and for entire towns to go bankrupt,” said Tom Croft, SVA Executive Director, who opened the summit. “But our region knows how to build. We are poised to lead a durable economy and make sure our local workers and communities benefit from infrastructure investment.”
The summit featured speakers from the participating states and included recorded remarks from Lt. Governor Austin Davis, a former board member of the SVA. “It is critical that we secure a long-term economic growth for our communities by giving them the tools they need to power their homes and their future on their own terms,” noted Davis.
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato provided comments. “The Appalachian Finance Hub is a critical tool for ensuring that communities across our region have access to the capital needed to drive new energy innovation and sustainable economic growth,” said County Executive Innamorato. “By mobilizing private and public investment, the Hub is helping to create good-paying jobs, strengthen local supply chains, and support…a greener economy.”

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