Economic Development

The Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) has received approval to move forward with plans to build a new 108,000-square-foot building on the Neighborhood 91 (N91) advanced manufacturing campus.

RIDC is the master developer of N91, which is owned by the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) and is adjacent to Pittsburgh International Airport. Construction is scheduled to begin this spring.

RIDC already manages N91’s existing multi-tenant building, which is fully occupied by companies including Cumberland Additive, HAMR Industries, Metal Powder Works, RJ Lee Group, Westmoreland Mechanical Testing and Research, and Jeol Additive.

Additive manufacturing has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sectors in modern industry, enabling companies to build complex components with less waste and shorter production timelines than traditional methods allow. Industries from aerospace and defense to medical devices and consumer products are increasingly relying on additive techniques and, for regions with the right combination of talent, infrastructure, and institutional support, the industry presents a tremendous economic development opportunity.

Pittsburgh is well-positioned to seize it. What makes N91 distinctive is not simply the presence of individual companies, but the collaborative ecosystem. Manufacturers working in additive processes share common needs – specialized materials, precision testing, equipment expertise, and a workforce that understands the technology. When those capabilities concentrate in one place, costs come down, supply chains shorten, and companies can solve problems more efficiently. The cluster that has taken shape at N91 creates exactly that kind of environment.

RIDC Senior Vice President Tim White described N91 as “a foundational asset for the Pittsburgh region – a location that has already become home to an industry cluster in advanced manufacturing, that can attract other companies in similar businesses, or those that benefit from being in proximity to those businesses.”

 

AI

Today, in an exclusive for Fortune, PA Chamber member Avoca announced its Series B at a $1 billion valuation, backed by Kleiner Perkins, Meritech, General Catalyst, Amplify, and other top Silicon Valley investors to bring AI to the services economy. The company’s first-of-its-kind AI agent offerings will start in home services and extend into roofing, restoration, auto, and other large industries where the same operating dynamics apply, helping operators capture leads at hours of the day they previously could not and convert more web visitors into booked jobs. A blog post describing their future-forward technology is here; the Fortune exclusive is here.