Director

Lauren Connelly

Lauren has dedicated her 20+ year career to making the region’s communities more equitable, accessible, and vibrant by creating conditions where people, businesses, and institutions can work collaboratively to achieve a higher quality of life for all.

Lauren returned to Allegheny County Economic Development in May 2024 as the Director, after serving as County Executive Sara Innamorato’s All In Allegheny transition team co-chair. Lauren previously served as an Assistant Director in the department from 2016-2019, managing community development loan and grant programs, main street revitalization programs, real estate development projects, and business development programs and projects throughout the 130 municipalities within Allegheny County.

Most recently, Lauren led regional policy advocacy and downtown revitalization efforts as the Vice President of Local Government Affairs and Advocacy for the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce (Chamber), an Allegheny Conference on Community Development affiliate. Before joining the Chamber, Lauren managed community development efforts in local community-based organizations and government. Lauren spent more than a decade leading community development in the Lawrenceville community of Pittsburgh. She has served as the Executive Director of both the Lawrenceville Corporation (LC), a community development corporation serving as a catalyst and conduit for sustainable and responsible growth and reinvestment in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, and Lawrenceville United (LU), a residents’ advocacy organization focused on improving and protecting the quality of life for all residents of Lawrenceville.

Lauren started her career within the City of Pittsburgh Mayor’s Office as the Neighborhood Initiatives Coordinator, leading community development initiatives focused on community engagement, vacant land reclamation and reuse, and main street revitalization.

Lauren currently serves on the Board of Directors for Riverlife and as the Treasurer for the Board of Directors of the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Lauren was inspired and encouraged to work in community development as a child by her grandmother. She graduated from Allegheny College and lives in Lawrenceville with her family.