Water Here, But Not Everywhere Else

By Harold D. Miller

A century ago, location decisions for many businesses were driven heavily by access to natural resources – coal and natural gas for power, rivers and lakes for transportation, etc. The Pittsburgh Region became a mighty industrial center because of its proximity to so many of these natural resources. The development of railroads, highways, gas and electric transmission lines, etc., made it possible for businesses to locate farther away from natural resources, thereby reducing the competitive advantages that the Pittsburgh Region once had. And more recently, the Internet has made it possible for many businesses and aspects of business to operate from very remote locations, creating even more competitor regions in an increasingly flat world.

However, the Pittsburgh Region still has a strong competitive advantage in one critical natural resource, and it’s likely that that asset will become even more important in the future.