Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives Invests $12 Million in New Homewood Community Health Center

Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives Invests $12 Million in New Homewood Community Health Center

Partnership with Primary Care Health Services Will Increase Access to Critical Health Care Services for Residents

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 26, 2026) The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh's (URA) affiliate Community Development Entity, Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives (PUI), has partnered with Primary Care Health Services, Inc. (PCHS) on a $12 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) investment to support construction of the new Wilford A. Payne Medical Center in Homewood.

This investment marks PUI's first closing from its record-high $60 million NMTC allocation awarded in December 2025 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. PCHS utilized a total of $28.5 million in NMTC allocation from three Community Development Entities, including the $12 million from PUI; $10 million from Commonwealth Cornerstone Group, a nonprofit affiliate of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency; and $6.5 million from Community Health Center Capital Fund, generating approximately $11 million in equity for the project. Dudley Ventures served as the NMTC investor.

The approximately 44,000-square-foot health center will replace the Alma Illery Medical Center, constructed in 1968, and an adjacent laboratory building. The new facility is expected to increase PCHS's annual patients served at this location from approximately 3,000 patients to 5,000 patients and the annual patient visits at this site from approximately 6,000 visits to close to 10,000 visits. In addition, PCHS expects to see approximately 25,000 patient visits system-wide increase to approximately 35,000 visits.

The center will house four behavioral health offices, nine dental treatment rooms, expanded laboratory services, and a pharmacy that will transition from serving PCHS patients exclusively to serving the broader community, giving the Homewood neighborhood its first retail pharmacy in over 20 years. It will expand services to include newly established intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) programming with a sensory room and play area, patient nutrition education, maternal and child health home visits, and health education for pregnant women focused on improving outcomes for women and their children.

The site will create additional space for PCHS's partner agencies, Healthy Start, Inc. and Homewood Children's Village, centralizing service providers that address social determinants of health and wellness.

"We want to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to PUI's Rebecca Davidson-Wagner and the URA team for their partnership and commitment to our mission to change the lives of the most vulnerable people that we serve," said Dr. Jerome Gloster, PCHS Chief Executive Officer. "We're overjoyed to have the support of PUI to receive this NMTC allocation. This will allow PCHS to complete the funding process to bring a state-of-the-art healthcare and social determinants of health facility to the underserved neighborhood of Homewood and its surrounding communities."

"PUI is thrilled to support this transformative development, which will improve the lives of Pittsburgh residents and families," said Rebecca Davidson-Wagner, PUI President and URA Chief Lending and Investment Officer. "The NMTC program remains a powerful tool. For PCHS, it was able to leverage extraordinary fundraising efforts and fill the final gap in their project. PCHS's medical center is exactly the type of project that the NMTC was created for, to bring private investment into the mix to deliver critical community facilities in areas private investment may not occur otherwise due to market forces."

The Wilford A. Payne Medical Center complements other URA investments in Homewood, including more than $1.9 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to support the remediation and redevelopment of 13 publicly owned properties along the North Homewood Avenue business corridor and more than $6.4 million committed toward the 44-unit Homewood Gateway residential development.

"Through this partnership, we are saying yes to community investment so that our main streets meet the needs of our neighbors," said Mayor Corey O'Connor. "The Wilford A. Payne Medical Center in Homewood will provide medical, health and wellness care as well as the neighborhood's first pharmacy in years. This helps build on additional investments in Homewood Park and Pool, housing and small businesses for a healthier, more vibrant neighborhood for residents and families."

"New Markets Tax Credits leverage public-private partnerships to bolster Pennsylvania communities," said PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Wiessmann. "We are thrilled to provide tax credits that will create a new health center and provide critical health care services."

Additional financing was provided through the Health Resources & Services Administration Congressionally Directed Spending; Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, Honorable Josh Shapiro, Governor; Commonwealth Financing Authority, Local Share Account Statewide; and Allegheny County Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund, in addition to support from local foundations and other funders.

Construction of the new facility began in November 2024. It is expected to open in 2027.

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Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives (PUI)
PUI is an LLC affiliated with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, created in order to apply for and facilitate New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) deployment for projects in the city and invest in low-income neighborhoods. PUI strategically invests in office, retail, mixed-use, and community facility developments that strengthen neighborhoods and support inclusive economic growth.

Primary Care Health Services, Inc. (PCHS)
As a Federally Qualified Health Center or FQHC, Primary Care Health Services, Inc. (PCHS) proudly embraces our mission to provide comprehensive Medical, Dental, Behavioral and Mental Health Services, Social Services, Pharmacy, and Laboratory Services to our communities without regard to their ability to pay. Our families receiving services reside throughout Allegheny County and are seen at one of our 11 primary care centers and 3 healthcare for the homeless sites and we have been accomplishing this mission as one of the first FQHCs in the country established initially in 1968 and incorporated as Primary Care Health Services, Inc. since 1977. Community is our Heart! Health and Wellness is our Mission!

About the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA)
The URA is the City of Pittsburgh's economic development enterprise. We are committed to building a prosperous and equitable economy for all of Pittsburgh. We help bridge public and private interests to invest in meaningful equitable developments that promote housing affordability, economic mobility, entrepreneurship and neighborhood revitalization. Our work creates and sustains quality jobs, thriving neighborhoods, healthy communities and sustainable businesses for the benefit of all Pittsburghers.