Bill Generett: Urban Innovator

What does it take to jump-start a city’s economy? One word: VISION. Bill Generett is the visionary behind Urban Innovation21, a public-private partnership that drives urban economic development. As President and CEO, Generett is changing the game in Pittsburgh by investing in the promise of underserved communities.

We sent Gregory Scott Williams, Jr., our Pittsburgh-based GCP filmmaker fellow, to reveal Generett’s story and how his work is transforming lives. Urban Innovation21 runs several successful programs such as economic renewal projects in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District, summer internships for youth, awards investment funds to black-owned startups, promotes wealth-building in local communities, and many other initiatives to catalyze economic growth in Pittsburgh.