News Releases
RADical Days Returns with Record Number of Free Admission Sites
RADical Days 2010 will offer the public a record-setting 41 free admission sites, plus new performances and activities as the annual celebration of the assets returns this month. The popular annual event will begin on September 19 and conclude with a first-ever RADical Days 24-event October 23-24.
Read more about RADical Days 2010 (in pdf). Visit the RADical Days page on our web site for the full schedule of activities.
ARAD Board to Hear Public Presentations for 2011 Requests Next Week
The Allegheny Regional Asset District reminds the public that presentations begin on August 24 for year 2011 budget requests . The full schedule, time and location information can be found on the RAD web site in the Board Meetings section.
There are 97 eligible applicants for funding next year, comprised of nine contractual assets, two multi-year assets, and 86 annual applicants. The total of these requests is $85,589,636. For 2010, the Board adopted the final grant budget of $78,819,786, with requests totalling $85,750,149.
The full release details additional schedule and budget information.
RAD Board Elects New At-Large Board Member
The Board of Directors of the Allegheny Regional Asset District at a Special Meeting on June 29 voted to appoint Daniel Rosen, Ph.D. as the new at-large member of the Board. According to the District’s governing act, four members are appointed by the Allegheny County Executive, two by the Mayor of Pittsburgh. The seventh member is elected by the appointed members from submissions by regional economic and community development corporations.
At the same meeting, the Board approved a grant of $49,080 to the Pittsburgh Opera in the Connections Grant program.
Read the full release (in pdf).
Applicant/Public Information Session Set for June 23, 2010
View the details for the 2011 applicant technical assistance and public information session here in pdf.
RAD Board Releases Year 2011 Application
The Board of Directors of the Allegheny Regional Asset District at a meeting today voted to release the year 2011 grant application. There are no changes in the eligibility or evaluation guidelines. The discretionary capital grant program will remain closed except for parks and trails, a large segment which, by statue, is required to be funded. Applications for year 2011 funding are due on Wednesday, July 14, no later than 4:00PM .
In other action, the Board approved a request by the Sports & Exhibition Authority to refund the 1999 bond issue that supported the Regional Destination Financing Plan.
Read the full release (in pdf).
RAD Seeks Nominations for At-Large Board Seat
The Board of DIrectors of the Allegheny Regional Asset District seeks nominations from regional economic and community development organizations for a person to be elected to the seventh, or "at-large" seat on the District Board.
Read more in the full release (in pdf).
RAD Board Receives Special Audit of Carnegie Library
The Allegheny Regional Asset District Board today received the report on the Special Audit of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh conducted by an independent auditing firm, ParenteBeard LLC.
According to the District's Audit Committee that reviewed the report, "Based on the review, it appears that the Trustees approached the operations, finances and planning for the future in a reasonable manner based on the facts available to them [last Fall]. Since the Library has decided to maintain its organizational structure for 2010, the plan of operations submitted with its 2010 application remains in good order."
However, the Audit Committee cautioned that the report also makes clear that "even under the most optimistic projections, maintaining the current cost structure at Carnegie Library will require additional resources for operations and to meet the capital needs" over the next five years.
RAD Board Elects New Officers for 2010
At the annual Board of Directors meeting of the Allegheny Regional Asset District held at a public meeting today, the Board, in accordance with its by-laws, elected officers for the year 2010. See the full release (in pdf).
At the same meeting, the Board appointed the following community leaders as members of the Citizen Advisory Committee:
Mr. Christopher W. Cahillane
Ms. Dina Clark
Mr. Chaz Kellem
Mr. Anthony Macklin
RAD Approves 2010 Budget, First Connections Grants
The Allegheny Regional Asset District today approved a 2010 budget that recommends grants to 89 organizations totaling $79.4 million. The total budget allocations remain unchanged from the preliminary budget released on September 29, 2009 which called for level funding for libraries and regional parks, and modest reductions in other areas.
The District Board also approved funding for the first ever Connections Grant Program at the $250,000 level. This new program fulfills a District commitment to recognize assets that submit plans to lower overhead and administrative costs by sharing or even merging operations. The Board awarded the first grants to Attack Theater, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theater, Multi-Cultural Arts Initiative and the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall of Carnegie, PA.
Read the full release (in pdf).
RAD Hires Special Auditor for CLP Review
At its meeting on December 1, the Allegheny Regional Asset District Board voted unanimously to accept the proposal of Parente Beard, LLC of Pittsburgh to conduct a special audit of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP). Read the full release (in pdf). Scope of the audit can be seen in the request for proposal which can be downloaded here.
RAD Board Approves Special Audit of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
At a Special Meeting yesterday of the Board of the Allegheny Regional Asset District, the District's Board voted to authorize a special audit/review of the Carnegie LIbrary of Pittsburgh. The LIbrary is funded as a contractual asset of the District and in 2009 received a grant of $17.6 million. Read the full release (in pdf).
RAD Releases Year 2010 Preliminary Budget
The Allegheny Regional Asset District today released a year 2010 preliminary budget that recommends grants totaling $79.4 million to 89 assets. The proposal is 1% lower than the 2009 budget due to the impact of theongoing recession on sales tax revenue - the only revenue source available to the District. Download the press release. Download the allocations committee report.
RAD Board to Release Withheld Funds to Assets
PITTSBURGH- The Board of Directors of the Allegheny Regional Asset District today announced that it will release the additional sum of funds that it had been setting aside since December of 2008 while it monitored economic trends and sales tax revenues. Read the full release (pdf).
RADical Days Returns in September
Pittsburgh - RADical Days returns to Pittsburgh on September 12 with 37 participating free admisison sites, inlcuding new performances and theater experiences. Read the full release (in pdf).
PACDP Training Event
Pennsylvania Cultural Data Base to hold free training event in Pittsburgh on September 14, 2009. Download pdf file here for all the information.
Grant Application Hearings Scheduled
Presentations of year 2010 budget requests begin on August 25. See press release (in pdf).
The full schedule can be found in the Board Meetings section.
RAD Board to Continue Withholding Portion of Grants as It Monitors Sales Tax Revenue
The Board of Directors of the Allegheny Reigonal Asset DIstrict today decided to continue to withhold 10% of operating grants as well as all contracts for discretionary capital grants for 2009, until at least September.
"Though we wish we had better news, even with the withholding still in place, the District budget will still be $75 million, a substantial public commitment," said Dusty Elias Kirk, chair of the RAD Board. "The grant program currently funds operating and capital grants to 90 diverse assets that are making a significant contribution to the vitality of this region."
Citing the continued uncertainty that surrounds sales tax revenue (the source of District funding), the District said it will continue to review its revenue position over the next five months, and meet on this issue no later than September. If a determination is made that the District is able to meet its revenue budget for the year, then additional funds might be released.
Read the full release (in pdf).
RAD Board Releases Year 2010 Application and Announces New Connections Grant Program
The Board of Directors of the Allegheny Regional Asset District today released the year 2010 grant application and announced a new project grant category, Connections Grants. Read the press release (in pdf).
The applications are available in the Work with Us/Forms section of our web site.
RAD Board Elects Officers for 2009
At the annual board of Directors meeting on February 10, the Board, in accordance with its by-laws, elected officers for the year 2009.
At the same meeting, the RAD Board also voted to extend the current contractual asset category for another five years and to renew the agreements with the current nine contractual assets for that period.
Read the full release (pdf).
Year 16 Report - Comments Requested
At its December 1 meeting, the Board received a report from the Year 16 Committee recommending renewal of the nine contractual asset contracts for another five year term. Act 77, the District governing Act, provided the initial grant structure by requiring the creation of a group of publicly owned and/or traditionally subsidized grantees. Known as "contractual" assets, these organizations received initial 10 year contracts that were extended as five year contracts through 2009. The Year 16 Committee, made up of board and citizen advisory board members, made the recommendation after accepting public comment and deliberating over the summer. The report is available for review and the Board welcomes comment. Download the report here.
Comments may be made in person at the next board meeting, tentatively scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2009 at 4:00PM, in a posted conference room on the 23rd floor of the Regional Enterprise Tower, 425 Sixth Avenue.
Comments may also be sent before January 26 via email to info@radworkshere.org, or mailed to Allegheny Regional Asset District, 425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1610, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
RAD Approves Conditional $80.3 Million Budget for 2009
The Allegheny Regional Asset District today approved a 2009 budget that recommends 96 operating and capital grants totaling a maximum of $80.3 million to 90 assets. The plan is identical to the preliminary budget released in September. Download the press release. Download the Allocations Committee report recommending the budget to the Board.
The District made note of the fact that with this budget, the District will have invested over $1billion in the county's regional assets since the funding program began in 1995.
RAD Releases 2009 Preliminary Budget
The District released a year 2009 preliminary budget on September 29, 2008, that recommends 96 operating and capital grants totaling $80.3 million to 90 assets. The proposal is $3.7 million lower than the 2008 budget largely due to a reduction in discretionary capital grants linked to declining revenue.
The budget is in the form of a report from the Board's Allocations Committee. Under the District's governing act, a budget vote does not take place until after a period for public comment. Therefore, changes in the size and scope of the budget may be made before its adoption. In its report, the Allocations Committee noted that projecting sales tax into next year has been complicated by the uncertainties in the economy. The Committee described its plan as a "hold the line budget" which maintains both contractual and annual grant assets at 2008 operating levels.Capital grants included in the plan are for regional parks and trails, most of which are required by statute.
Download a copy of the press release here.
RADical Days 2008: Coming to Your School
RAD, Gateway to the Arts, and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre are celebrating RADical Days 2008 with a special performance: for the first time, the annual RADical Days event will bring a free RADical Days performance to a local school.
Parents, faculty and staff of eligible K-12 schools within a 50-mile radius of downtown Pittsburgh are invited to register to win a Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Discover Dance performance program to take place at their school some time during the 2008-2009 school year, at no charge to the school.
Download the press release. Download the entry form.
RADical Days 2008 Features Record 39 Sites
RADical Days returns to Pittsburgh on September 20 with a record 39 participating free admission sites! For the seventh year, the public can enjoy this nearly three week event featuring free admissions, musical and dance performances, and family activities offered by dozens of arts and culture organizations that are funded by RAD. In addition, throughout the event, many Allegheny County public libraries will host special RADical Days activities. Download the release. Go to the RADical Days page.
ARAD Board to Hear Public Presentation for 2009 Requests
Presentations of year 2009 requests begin on August 25. Download the press release. Download the hearing schedule.
Months of Free Fun Ahead with Regional Assets
RADical Days will return in September! In the meantime, search the RAD web site for more than 150 other upcoming free events sponsored by regional assets. Just type "free" into the search engine on this web site and the list will be created. Download press release.
RAD Releases Applications for Year 2009; 7th Member Elected
RAD's Year 2009 application is now available; and, Dr. Herman Jones is re-elected as the 7th member of the Board. Read the release. Go to the RAD Forms page to download the application.
RAD Has New Address
The Allegheny Regional Asset District has moved to a new location in downtown Pittsburgh- and will hold public hearings at its new site. The new address will be:
Allegheny Regional Asset District
Regional Enterprise Tower
425 Sixth Avenue
Suite 1610
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Staff phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same. However, Board meetings are now expected to take place in the Regional Enterprise Tower building, and at 4:00 PM, earlier than past Board meeting times. Check the RAD web site to confirm meeting times and places the week before scheduled meetings.
RADical Days Event Returns in September
RADical Days07, the popular RAD-sponsored event featuring free admission at treasured regional assets, will return in September. Download PDF.