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Karla Owens

A community leader and Bloomfield business owner with 20 years experience in education, management, sales, marketing, customer service and business development, Owens received an MS Ed from Duquesne University in Education/Instructional Technology and a B.S. from Clarion University in Business Administration/Marketing.

A member of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s Blue Ribbon Economic Development Committee, Owens also earned a Paralegal Certificate from Pennsylvania State University.

Since becoming executive director of the BDC in 2009, Owens has secured the organization’s 501(c)(3) status, prepared by-laws, raised $45,000 in grant funds, implemented Liberty Avenue streetscape improvements, and assisted with restructuring the Baum/Centre Initiative. Additional priorities for Owens include participating in the West Penn Community Partnership, collaborating with East End Partners and Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development on new funding opportunities, and convening developers and stakeholders to build a new senior living center.

Prior to becoming executive director of the BDC, Owens served as Mainstreet Manager for the Bloomfield Business Association (BBA), and adjunct faculty member with Robert Morris University’s School of Business. Among Owens’ accomplishments as Mainstreet Manager of the BBA are: developing a strategic Business District Action Plan, increasing membership by 15%, assisting local businesses with façade improvement grants, and receiving more than $200,000 in grant money for neighborhood development.

From 1991 to 2007, Owens was owner and operator of Bloomfield Jewelry located in the heart of the neighborhood at 4806 Liberty Avenue.

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Posts by Karla:

Valentine’s Day Raffle Winner

Posted by Karla Owens on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 6:30 PM

Congratulations to Lynn Rosen, the winner of the $800.00 prize in the Valentine’s Day Raffle.

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Las Vegas Learns from the Rust Belt

Posted by Karla Owens on Monday, October 26, 2009 at 9:17 PM

I was attending a wedding in Las Vegas earlier in the month and was reading the Las Vegas Sun that was delivered to the hotel on Sunday. There was an article about the challenges Las Vegas is facing with their main industry, tourism, declining. Imagine my surprise when the article referenced Pittsburgh as the example they wanted to follow:

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Little Italy Days Thanks You

Posted by Karla Owens on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 9:00 AM

Thanks to the following for helping to make the 2009 festival happen.

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G-20 Safety Update

Posted by Karla Owens on Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 2:39 PM

While there will be a focus of a portion of the Pittsburgh Police force and outside law enforcement in those areas of the city where G-20 activities are scheduled or expected, Pittsburgh Neighbors will have all public safety resources available during the G-20. Zone 5 will have the same number of officers assigned to each shift as they generally do. Special units like the SWAT Team will be available to neighborhoods if necessary. Fire and EMS will respond to neighborhood emergencies. Residents are encourage to continue to call 311 and 911 to report any suspicious activity. If you have any questions about safety in your neighborhoods, please call your Zone Police Commander.

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Little Italy Days Announcement

Posted by Karla Owens on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 5:15 PM

I want to inform everyone that Little Italy Days has not been canceled nor was it ever discussed being canceled. We had some difficulties with our contractors bringing in their equipment during the G-20. We have resolved those issues and the most changes you will see will be a likely Friday morning set up instead of Thursday evening. Everything else will be the same. Any changes regarding scheduling, etc. will be posted to this site as soon as it is confirmed. We are continuing to work with the City of Pittsburgh on safety and traffic situations and will update everyone as it progresses.

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Port Authority T Stations Closing on Weekends

Posted by Karla Owens on Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 6:00 AM

Two light rail stations in Downtown Pittsburgh will close each weekend for about four months starting Saturday, July 18.

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Community, Business and Governmental Leaders Launch Historical Citywide Campaign to Cut Global Warming

Posted by Karla Owens on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 2:02 PM

In March, 2009, leaders from community groups, the business sector, local government and the higher education community launched a new citywide campaign, “The Black and Gold City Goes Green”, the first-ever attempt by any city in the nation to run a citywide citizen action campaign to cut global warming. The goal of the campaign is to work together to reduce heat-trapping gases from global warming, with a significant measurable decrease expected by January 2010.

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UPMC Perks Program

Posted by Karla Owens on Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 2:46 PM

Children’s Hospital is officially open and we are fortunate to have such a beautiful and world class medical facility in our neighborhood. There are many employees at this facility as well as thousands of visitors every year that will come to Bloomfield’s shops and restaurants. Many businesses have put up banners welcoming employees and offering discounts. We have met with officials from Children’s Hospital and would like to pass on information on ways your business can sign up for their programs.

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Attention Bloomfield Businesses

Posted by Karla Owens on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 4:03 PM

The deadline to join the Bloomfield Business Association for 2009 is June 30, 2009. If you are interested in elections or voting in the November election, your dues must be paid by June 30.

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Is this tree alive?

Posted by Karla Owens on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 6:17 PM

Is there a tree on your property? Are you properly watering and caring for the tree? Please see the information below from TreeVitalize. Remember that it is the responsibility of the property and/or business owner to care for the trees. These trees were provided to us through grants from the City of Pittsburgh. Let’s keep our business district clean and green!

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