The Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (PCHE) is a consortium of the ten accredited colleges and universities in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1966, the membership includes Carlow University, Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, La Roche College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Point Park University, Robert Morris University, and the University of Pittsburgh.

The Challenge

Since 2014, the year of their last economic impact report (also completed by Fourth Economy Consulting), six PCHE member institutions had changed leadership. This presented an opportunity to reevaluate the impact that the institutions were having on the city’s communities and economy. Fourth Economy Consulting was re-engaged to conduct a holistic economic impact study of the member institutions.

Our Approach

Fourth Economy takes a creative approach to economic impact studies in order to get beyond the opaque and impersonal nature of traditional direct, indirect, and induced measures. We worked with PCHE member institutions to document the contributions they make through research, in-kind service, supporting regional workforce development goals, creating new companies, and growing the tax base. We also told the stories of significant investments that the institutions had made in new buildings and of programs that support community and economic development.

The Results

Member institutions are utilizing the report to brief their stakeholders, including private sector partners and governmental entities. The breadth of the results allows the institutions to demonstrate the range of benefits they contribute to the Pittsburgh community.