All Programs

The Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act (LERTA), Act 76, provides tax breaks for commercial and industrial properties in specific areas to incentivize the redevelopment of aging or deteriorated properties. The LERTA abatement only applies to the assessed value of the improvements, not the existing value of the land or structure prior to redevelopment. The Act provides an additional mechanism for local taxing authorities to contribute to the economic development of their respective jurisdictions through the exemption of real property tax.

Strengthening Local Business Districts Across Allegheny County

Main Streets Allegheny is Allegheny County’s coordinated initiative to support neighborhood commercial districts and downtown business corridors across the county.

Strong Main Streets are essential to healthy communities. They support small businesses, create local jobs, activate public spaces, and serve as gathering places that strengthen neighborhood identity and quality of life.

Main Streets Allegheny brings together technical assistance, grants, loans, and district-level investment to help municipalities, business districts, and small businesses work together to strengthen local economies and create vibrant, welcoming places.

The Main Streets Allegheny Program includes more than $4 million to be invested in our County’s Main Streets. If you are working to strengthen a local business district or operate a business within one, Main Streets Allegheny is designed to support you.

Application for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement funds for projects such as Infrastructure, New Production and Preservation of Affordable Housing Units, Workforce, and Economic Development, Blight Mitigation, Job-creating Commercial Real Estate Development, and other activities that benefit low/moderate-income communities and households or support in the creation and retention of permanent, full-time equivalent jobs for individuals of low/moderate-income households. Allegheny County accepts applications for entitlement funding from Municipalities, Councils of Governments, and Non-profit agencies.

As amended, the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Act 2004-71) provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to support projects in the public interest within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

501(c)3 applicants in both the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County MUST apply through Allegheny County Economic Development. Eligible projects must be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a Pennsylvania nonprofit entity. Grants are available for projects with a total eligible project cost of $25,000 or more. Grant requests shall not exceed $1,000,000 for any project.

The Active Allegheny Grant Program (AAGP) is administered by Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED).The purpose of the AAGP is to provide financial assistance to municipalities, non-profit organizations, and councils of governments to develop community plans and design transportation projects that will, when implemented, provide bicycle and pedestrian connections to critical local destinations and transportation systems and increase residents' opportunities for physical activity.

The Act 152 Blight Removal Program provides funding for demolition and blight remediation planning. This program uses established blight conditions to focus on demolishing hazardous structures, site preparation for development projects, and multiphase planning efforts. Since its inception in 2021, the program has awarded $5.2 million to demolish 181 structures. The program emphasizes lead-safe demolition.

The Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program (VPRP) acquires vacant, blighted properties and conveys them to applicants who have 1) developed a concrete reuse plan, and 2) demonstrated the capacity to implement it.

There are two programs, each with their own requirements: 1) Low to Moderate Income Areas and 2) Standard Program.

Applicants may include individuals, municipalities, community groups, local businesses, and private and nonprofit developers.