Money Moves is a recurring series where we chart the raises, grants, contracts, mergers and other funding news of tech companies across our regions. Have a tip? Email us at pittsburgh@technical.ly.

A controversial plan to build a data center in Allegheny County just got $14.3 million closer to becoming a reality. 

Meanwhile, the commonwealth is sending over $3 million to three Pittsburgh institutions to develop small business assistant centers, and four local startups won a combined $325,000 at one of the city’s biggest annual pitch competitions. 

Keep reading for more on these big deals and other recent money moves shaping the Pittsburgh region. 

Developer buys prospective data center site in Springdale for $14.3M

Allegheny DC Property Co., a holding company owned by a New York-based investment firm, is making progress on transforming a former coal plant in Springdale, Pennsylvania, into a massive data center. 

The development company purchased the former Springdale coal-fired power plant site for $14.3 million on Nov. 19, according to Allegheny County land records. At the time, the company was already seeking a permit from Springdale to develop the 47-acre site into a 565,000-square-foot data center specifically designed to power AI. The proposed facility includes the 60-foot-tall data center — up to 75 feet high with rooftop equipment — and another 200,000-square-foot utility building nearby.  

The permit, which has already been approved with conditions by Springdale’s planning commission, now moves to the Springdale Council, with a vote expected on Dec. 16. 

The proposed project has sparked protests from some Springdale community members concerned about potential issues like noise and light pollution, increased electric bills in the area, water usage and impact on local property values.

If the project continues to receive the proper permits, construction could begin in 2027 and be operational by 2028, Brian Regli, a consultant working with Allegheny DC, told the Pittsburgh Business Times. 

$3.7M for small business development in Pittsburgh 

Three new centers offering resources to small businesses are coming to Pittsburgh with help from state funding. 

Duquesne University, Seton Hill University and North Side Industrial Development Company (which does business as Riverside Center for Innovation) received more than $3.7 million combined to establish three Business Assistance Service Centers at their respective locations as part of Pennsylvania’s Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program. 

“Many of our small businesses could succeed and even expand if they were able to build out their networks and grow their skill sets — these new Business Assistance Service Centers will bridge those gaps,” Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said in a prepared statement. “Every Pennsylvanian deserves a fair shot to achieve their own American dream and we’ll continue to make strategic investments that will help build ladders of opportunity for everyone.”

Once established, these centers will provide small, historically disadvantaged businesses with technical assistance and support services designed to increase access to capital and promote growth. This includes businesses owned or operated by socially or economically disadvantaged Pennsylvania residents whose opportunities have been limited by cultural, racial or long-term economic circumstances. 

The grant announcement did not include a timeline for establishing these centers or when services would become available. The program’s guidelines say projects should not exceed 18 months. 

Business Assistance Service Centers resources

  • One-on-one business counseling
    • Business plan development and review
    • Business formation services to include assistance with legal formation, registration requirements, and pursuit of licenses and permits for operation
    • Entrepreneurial assessment
    • Market assessment
    • Business management and operation
    • Business marketing and social media strategies
    • Strategic plan development
    • Business continuity planning
  • Accounting assistance
    • Cash flow projection
    • Tax compliance consultation
    • Financial management consultation
  • Employer responsibility training
    • Guidance on requirements related to workers’ compensation
    • Unemployment insurance
    • Employment eligibility verification
  • Contract procurement support
    • Registration with governmental databases such as Pennsylvania’s Small Business or Small Diverse Business program
    • US Small Business Administration’s Small Disadvantaged Business program
  • Plus: helping entrepreneurs identify existing local resources

$325k awarded to startups in local pitch competition 

Four local startups, mostly focused on family health, took home top prizes at the BNY UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge last month.

Parcel Health, a sustainable pill bottle packaging startup, won the top prize of $125,000 in the advanced-stage track of the competition. In second place, DashStrom, a platform connecting kids to active after-school programs, took home $75,000.

Parcel Health wins first place at UpPrize (Courtesy South Breeze Photography)

In the early-stage track, Doing it All Day, an app that provides parenting support to fathers, won the category’s grand prize of $75,000, while Wombs, a platform connecting expecting mothers with a wide range of healthcare providers, won second place and $50,000. 

The competition, a partnership between early-stage investor Innovation Works and BNY, has awarded more than $3.4 million to social innovators since it launched in 2015. 

“By activating our networks, engaging regional partners, and offering targeted programming, we ensure that the challenge is not just accessible, but truly impactful,” Ven Raju, president and CEO of Innovation Works, said in a prepared statement. “We’re proud to help create a platform that connects high-potential social entrepreneurs with the resources they need to scale and bring about meaningful change.”

More money moves: 

  • After a historically long impasse, Pennsylvania passed a $50 billion FY 2025–26 budget, funding economic development initiatives, internal tech upgrades, education and much more. 
  • CLEF, an early-stage startup developing a platform to connect local musicians and venues, won $10,000 at EXPlore: Pittsburgh Tech Week’s pitch competition.
  • Eos Energy Enterprises, a leading manufacturer of American-made zinc-based battery energy storage systems, is making a $353 million headquarters move to Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Now, the federal government will buy shares in the company as part of a modification to the Department of Energy’s $305 million loan to Eos. 
  • Local companies raised just $19.4 million during the third quarter. It was a steep drop from Q2’s nearly $1 billion and marked the smallest total in more than a decade.
  • Green Cabbage, a pricing analytics startup, secured $40 million in Series B funding after moving into a “much larger” Warrendale office. 
  • The Pittsburgh Robotics Network and Carnegie Mellon University are both seeking $5 million from Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to create a deep tech center and “Physical AI Accelerator”, respectively. 

Notable SEC filings