Brett Banter

Pittsburgh has suddenly been in the spotlight this week as the city plays host to the G-20 Summit, a momentous gathering of 20 leaders of developed and emerging countries meeting to work on global coordination of economic policies.

The G-20 assemblage itself is notable for its own reasons, including goals to work on creating a more extensive international council for economic cooperation. For Pittsburgh, though, such a significant convention of world leaders in one location means invaluable exposure and a public relations opportunity that will extend well beyond the cliched 15 minutes of fame.

President Barack Obama chose Pittsburgh as the site for G-20 to prove a point that investment can bring about change and revival of industry. Once an industrial hub, Pittsburgh went into economic decline in the 1970s and 1980s as steel mills, businesses and shops shut down. As citizens lost their jobs, they flocked elsewhere looking for work, and Pittsburgh saw its population plummet by nearly a quarter. The 1990s ushered in a new era of economic development as the city began to funnel money into revitalizing healthcare, education and technology.

What the G-20 Summit will do for Pittsburgh's public image is invaluable. Read more about the history of Pittsburgh here.