On September 16, 2026, the Conference’s Alisa Balestra-Hamill, Ph.D., Senior Director of Economic Development Research and Strategy, testified on one of two panels before the Pennsylvania House Housing & Community Development Committee on the topic of increasing housing supply.

The Conference’s testimony made a compelling case that housing is essential economic infrastructure, warning that a severe shortage—projected at nearly 185,000 units statewide by 2035—is actively bottlenecking regional workforce growth and business expansion. Focusing on Southwestern Pennsylvania’s housing delivery crisis, the testimony detailed how skyrocketing construction costs, sluggish permitting, and fragmented financing leave middle-income “workforce rate” families ($66,200–$132,500 income bracket) stranded without options.

Just as importantly, the work by the Conference outlined key action items—from streamlining local zoning approvals and fixing gap financing to aligning housing production directly with major job centers. The work of the Conference, referenced in the testimony, offers a vital blueprint for how modernizing state policies can drive regional competitiveness and economic growth.

The first panel included Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, Matt Singer – Deputy Chief of Staff to Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor, and Commonwealth Development Partners. The committee heard from two panels about “Increasing Housing Supply.” The Conference’s testimony can be found here.

The House Committee has posted video of the informational session, and made all testimony available online.