General Resources

Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurants

Are you recycling, donating food, or sourcing locally? Do you want save money and bring more guests through your doors? Earn your designation as a Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant and be recognized for your commitments to the environment, society, and the economy while building your business in sustainable ways. Join 16 of your Lawrenceville neighbor restaurants and chefs (and more than 100+ across the city), including Spirit, Kickback Pinball Cafe, 52nd Street Market, Senti, The Pittsburgh Juice Company, B52, Franktuary, Smoke BBQ & Taqueria, Burghers Lawrenceville, The Abbey on Butler Street, Allegheny Wine Mixer, REED&CO, The Vandal, Cinderlands Beer Co., Banh Mi and Ti and Driftwood Oven. We have grant funding for sustainable improvements up to $5,000, but becoming a plated restaurant also connects you with other like-minded vendors and expands marketing opportunities. Many restaurants in the program have been featured in Table Magazine and Pittsburgh Magazine for their sustainable efforts. For more info, visit Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant’s website. If you’re interested, email Rachel Webber to arrange a meeting.

Sign Grant Program

Importance of Good Signage

First impressions have a lasting influence. That’s why it’s important that neighborhood business districts like Butler Street and Penn Avenue present an appealing image to potential customers, tenants, and investors. Signs are particularly important. When well designed and properly maintained, signs enhance the unique image of a neighborhood and favorably influence people’s perceptions of individual businesses and the district as a whole.

Important things to consider when designing a sign for your business:

• Does the sign’s design take into account the historic character of the building and the neighborhood?
• Does the sign reflect the image of your business? Is it attractive enough to entice new customers?
• Is your sign readable? Do the typeface, color, and design make it easy for customers to recognize your business?
• Can your sign be seen at night?

Sign Grants
To help small businesses afford attractive signage, the Mainstreets and Real Estate Committees of the Lawrenceville Corporation (LC) created the Sign Grant Program.The Sign Grant Program offers 50/50 matching grants to member businesses in the Butler Street and Penn Avenue business districts. Businesses in buildings that have been rehabilitated or renovated are eligible for up to $500 of matching grant funds. Proof of payment or of an in‐kind donation will be considered for the business/property owner’s match. Sign grants are reimbursable grants, which mean business/property owners must pay the sign fabrication and installation fees upfront, and then be reimbursed for half of the fees up to $500.

Testimonials

The sign grant helped me get the sign I wanted, rather than the sign I could afford. I would have had to purchase a much plainer, less noticeable sign if I did not have access to the sign grant. I was able to get an attractive, professional sign. I am really happy with how it looks. I’ve received many compliments and it has been up less than a month! – Rebecca Morris, Wildcard

Streetface Facade Renovation Program

The Streetface facade renovation program, administered by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Pittsburgh, provides matching funds to eligible commercial building owners and tenants to improve their building facades. Improved facades not only have a marked impact on the appearance of the neighborhood, but can also positively affect a business’s bottom line by attracting more foot traffic.

The streetface facade program has included 36 projects with a $871.7k URA investment, as well as $1.5m private investment, which totals to $2.4 million.

The Lawrenceville Corporation facilitates Streetface applications for Lawrenceville’s Butler Street and Penn Main business districts. The Lawrenceville Corporation has assisted in the rehabilitation of over 100 facades in these districts.

Property owners, developers, or tenants who are interested in the Streetface program should contact us at 412.621.1616 x 102 or via email.

These funds only apply to exterior (façade) renovations. Low-interest loans for interior renovations on commercial properties in Main Street districts are available through the Business Development Center of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh.

Visit Pittsburgh Membership

Members of the Lawrenceville Corporation can team up with VisitPITTSBURGH to encourage travelers to visit our neighborhood. VisitPITTSBURGH is our city’s official tourism promotion agency. Member businesses will receive 75% off of VisitPITTSBURGH membership fees. For $160 a year, neighborhood merchants can receive: business listing in the 2018 visitors guide, business listing in PLAY, a publication specifically designed for tourists, a web listing on VisitPITTSBURGH’s website, a partner decal, and invitations to partner events. For more information, or to become a member of VisitPITTSBURGH, email Christine Musial, Partnership Development Manager.

Kiva Pittsburgh

The Lawrenceville Corporation is a trustee of Kiva Pittsburgh. Kiva is for any entrepreneur who can use a 0% interest loan to help take his or her business to the next level. Kiva offers loans up to $10,000 with no fees up to a 36 month term. The loans are administered by PayPal and operate via monthly payment installments.