Kroger to Acquire Giant Eagle for $1.65 Billion in Grocery Industry Shakeup
A major shift is coming to Western Pennsylvania’s grocery landscape as Kroger announced plans to acquire regional grocery giant Giant Eagle — one of the most significant retail consolidations in the region in decades.
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Bridging the Capital Gap to Build Generational Wealth for PA’s Black Entrepreneurs
Access to capital remains the single most significant hurdle preventing Black-owned businesses from scaling across Pennsylvania. PUM Forward examines the systemic barriers and the path forward.
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The Greenwood Plan: Rebuilding Black Wealth, One Entrepreneur at a Time
In a city that ranks among the nation’s most challenging for Black business ownership, one Pittsburgh nonprofit is working to change that narrative from the ground up.
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Profiles of entrepreneurs and enterprises shaping Pittsburgh's economic future.
The State of Black Business: Why Pittsburgh Still Ranks Among America’s Most Challenging Cities for Black Entrepreneurs
By PittsburghUrbanMedia.com · PUM Business Report
The data tells two stories at once. Black entrepreneurship in Pennsylvania is growing — but Pittsburgh and Allegheny County continue to lag behind nearly every major metro area in the country when it comes to Black business ownership and scale. That creates both an economic challenge and a major opportunity.
Pennsylvania: Black Businesses Are Growing
The most comprehensive statewide analysis comes from the Pennsylvania State Data Center. Key findings include:
Black entrepreneurship is becoming an increasingly important part of Pennsylvania’s economy despite ongoing barriers — even as total employer businesses statewide declined slightly over the same period.
Why Does This Gap Exist?
Researchers consistently identify several compounding challenges:
Brookings researchers argue this is not simply an equity issue — it is an economic development issue. The region is leaving innovation, jobs, and investment on the table by failing to cultivate more Black-owned businesses.
Pittsburgh & Allegheny County: A Different Picture
Unfortunately, Pittsburgh continues to rank near the bottom nationally. According to research from the Brookings Institution:
Pittsburgh ranked last among the nation’s 50 largest metro areas for the percentage of Black-owned businesses.
Allegheny County by the Numbers
Organizations Working to Change the Picture
Several organizations are actively supporting Black entrepreneurs across the region:
Business Resources
Tools and organizations supporting Black business growth in Pennsylvania.
PA Minority Business Development
State ResourceState resources for minority-owned business certification, contracts, and financing.
Visit →Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
NonprofitWorkforce development, entrepreneurship programs, and economic empowerment services.
Visit →Pittsburgh Black Business Directory
DirectoryFind and support Black-owned businesses across Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania.
Visit →SBA Pittsburgh District Office
Federal ResourceSmall Business Administration loans, grants, and technical assistance for entrepreneurs.
Visit →