Malone and Buford's Viewpoint: Answering the call to bring about regional recovery

The headlines about COVID-19’s economic impact continue to shock us. At least 1.4 million Pennsylvania residents have been thrown out of work. In the last three weeks alone, 38,000 Allegheny County residents filed for unemployment compensation; many more no longer receive paychecks. Some of the doors that closed will not reopen.

Nearly $349 billion in federal stimulus funding to help small businesses, and their employees, has run out with thousands of others left out. Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto warned of dark days ahead with millions lost in tax revenue and an economic impact expected to reverberate for the next five years.

We all know that the health crisis will cause lasting damage to our region’s economy and workforce. It will undeniably change our region’s economic landscape beyond its terrible immediate impact. There have been calls for a coalition of broad-based representation to lead and execute a recovery plan for the region’s businesses and workers.

That is where our commitment to creating permanent, positive change begins.

The Partner4Work board of directors – appointed representatives of business, labor, economic development, government, education, philanthropy and human services – unanimously answered the call to bring about regional recovery.

As the leader of the workforce development system for the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Partner4Work serves as a conduit for federal, state and philanthropic dollars for the region and taps into a vast national network of workforce and economic development experts. As such, P4W is uniquely positioned to lead now and as the region emerges from the crisis. We know:

• Now is the time to act. The work ahead requires the efforts and energy of many. Business, labor, philanthropy, education, economic development, policymakers and nonprofits must act strategically and synergistically.
• Diversity, equity and inclusion can no longer be a talking point. It must be part of the fabric of the strategy to ensure an economy for all.
• Advocacy for continued stimulus relief for businesses and workers must continue to stabilize the community.

To immediately bring these understandings to reality, Partner4Work will convene a small planning group of business, labor, philanthropy, education and economic development leaders to develop the blueprint, prioritize action steps and outline a strategy to lead the region through the crisis and in the days ahead. This first step will provide a framework for mobilizing leadership, resources and action across the city and county.

The planning group will drive numerous coalition subgroups tasked with developing and delivering strategic efforts to address immediate needs relative to the crisis – helping to stabilize businesses and workers. An expanded leadership team and longer-term subgroups will be convened to develop and implement an intermediate plan for reopening the economy when it is safe to do so, and a long-term strategy to emerge stronger than before.

We know it will require grit, sacrifice, hard work and the big thinking of many. Together, we will drive the region’s future through thoughtful planning, deliberate prioritization and intentional intersecting. Our objective is to make this coalition as dynamic and forward-thinking as possible — directly reflecting the productive, innovative and unique spirit that makes our city and region so resilient.

We urge corporate leaders to help us shape and bring about a more vibrant, more inclusive region now and in the future.

Now is the time. Let’s get to work.

Earl Buford is CEO of Partner4Work. David J. Malone is chairman and CEO of Gateway Financial and chairman of the Partner4Work board.