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Pittsburgh City Council

University of Pittsburgh joins push to fund city projects with $5M grant.

Written by Amy Whipple

The University of Pittsburgh has joined the growing list of large nonprofits making payments in lieu of taxes to the city.

At its April 20 committee meeting, council voted to accept a $5 million grant, spread out over five years, from Pitt. The money is intended for parks capital improvements, URA Main Street Programs and public safety facilities, among others at the city’s discretion. 

The proposed spending for the money will be in the city’s capital budget for council’s approval, Chief of Staff Dan Gilman said. “We certainly want to be fully transparent with council and with the public on where these dollars go going forward,” he said. 

Rea Price, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, said the money will sit in a grants trust fund until the city distributes it.

Council Member Erika Strassburger of Squirrel Hill North asked the administration to provide additional reports on how the money is spent in light of recent concerns about the city’s trust funds. “There is public scrutiny of funding that we’re receiving, and it would be helpful to get further clarity,” she said.

Connections to this story

Elected officials:
Erika Strassburger
Topics:
City Budget & Fiscal
Governments:
Pittsburgh City Council
Public meetings:
City Council · April 20, 2026
Sources:
Resolution 2026-0359 — authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to enter into an Agreement or Agreements…

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Forward Township

Township will remain eligible for block grants.

Forward Township supervisors approved a resolution to opt into the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, keeping the township eligible to apply for federal funds for the next three years.