The Pittsburgh Mastermind Group welcomed Dennis Yablonsky, CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, to their meeting on February 27. Dennis’s presentation focused on what job and industry sectors are expanding and what the Allegheny Conference is doing regarding real estate projects.

Of particular note was the Shell cracker plant’s impact on regional economic development. It is the largest economic development project in the Pittsburgh region’s history. The Shell plant is projected to be at least a $6 billion investment. There will be 600 permitted jobs on-site, 2,000 construction workers on average over a five year construction cycle, 5,000 construction workers at peak, and it will require 2,000-4,000 full-time employees to service the facility. One facility will generate $4 billion in economic activity and the total regional output will be $139 billion.

Shell has to apply for federal and state permits this summer, and construction is expected to start in two years.