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News Detail

Heinz College Celebrates the Relaunch of its Center for Economic Development

Release Date: Oct 21, 2009

Image associated with the Heinz College Celebrates the Relaunch of its Center for Economic Development news item

On September 30, 2009, Heinz College and the Smart Growth Club celebrated the launch of a revitalized Center for Economic Development (CED), an arm of the College which has conducted applied research for the institutions, communities, and economy of the Pittsburgh region for the past 22 years. Under Dean Ramayya Krishnan and new Academic Director Lowell Taylor, the research mission of the CED has been placed in the hands of Heinz students who will now have the support and guidance of CED’s Fellows -- top leaders of the region’s most influential and innovative organizations in economic development. 

As Krishnan observed, “…the key elements that form the Heinz College’s identity involve engaging and shaping the real world, being innovators, leveraging diversity, and being compassionate leaders that give back to society.  These elements, I think, are a great fit for the Center for Economic Development, and I see each of our Fellows as embodying these values, and as great role models for our students.”

By agreement with the College, these organizations will be submitting important projects and policy questions that our students will be able to engage through system synthesis capstone projects.  Fellows will also engage students through Convocations, student Smart Growth Club events, and panel discussions. The first panel convened at the relaunch, where six Fellows joined Lowell Taylor, Don Carter of the Remaking Cities Institute at Carnegie Mellon’s School of Architecture, and Jim Jordan of the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse. Each organization’s mission was introduced to students, and the principal challenges facing them in today’s economic environment was discussed. A reception followed during which students could engage panelists directly.

Watch the full panel now:

 

CED Fellows are key decision makers for economic, community, and technological investments across our region.  They lead some of the institutions that helped made Pittsburgh a model for other cities struggling to redevelop in the aftermath of deindustrialization. Some are involved in fostering business startups around new technologies; others are working to open up the scenic beauty and unlock the economic potential of our riverfronts, still others are working to bring distressed neighborhoods and communities back from the brink.  With the relaunch of the CED, the College has opened up new learning opportunities in policy and practice for students interested in economic development.  You can learn more about Fellow organizations using the links below.

Questions on the new CED should go to Project Director Greg Lagana at glagana@andrew.cmu.edu.  A new website for the Center will be up soon.  Note that any current Carnegie Mellon student can join the Heinz College’s Smart Growth Club.  This club hosts events and presentations of interest to students interested in economic, community, and sustainable development issues.  Contact Joseph Dickerson to sign up at jldickerson3@gmail.com.

CED Fellows and Partner Organizations:

Other Panelists:

  • Lowell Taylor (Moderator) is Professor of Economics and Public Policy at Heinz College, and Academic Director of the CED.
  • Don Carter is the latest faculty member to affiliate with the CED.  He currently serves as David Lewis Director of Urban Design and Regional Engagement of Remaking Cities Institute at School of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University. 

Become a CED Partner:

Organizations interested in partnering with the Center for Economic Development should contact Bryan Tamburro at tamburro@andrew.cmu.edu.