History

GTECH started in 2006 as a graduate project at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Public Policy and Management. By farming Pittsburgh’s largest remaining brownfield by hand, GTECH piloted the concept of growing biofuel crops to remediate land and produce biofuel feedstock. The success of that original brownfield pilot enabled the GTECH team to expand their reach and work throughout the region in various communities, sites, and organizations. Read Vacant to Vibrant and the Vacant Land Policy Report on our Resources Page.

In 2008 the GTECH management team received the prestigious Echoing Green Fellowship, an international award supporting the work of entrepreneurs and their vision for social change. The Echoing Green Fellowship catalyzed the growth of GTECH into a change-making organization and a community leader on both a regional and national level. This enabled the organization to expand its reach, increase its team, and focus on growing the green job marketplace.

In 2009 GTECH launched a strategic partnership with Green For All, a national organization working to build an inclusive Green Economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty and increase capacity in growing the local green economy. Hiring a Director of Green Economy, is a critical part of developing a sustainable green workforce. By coordinating innovative GTECH solutions with community needs, identifying and facilitating collaborations among regional stakeholders, and researching and advising government in sustainable green policy and practices, GTECH provides valuable solutions to environmental and community challenges.

Merging creative, tangible resolutions and a sensible orientation towards collaboration GTECH has grown into a regional leader in innovative, sustainable policy and on-the-ground project implementation that uses green strategies to provide economic and community development opportunities.