The vision for the Downtown Now Strategic Alliance is to enable downtown Pittsburgh to fully realize its potential as a vibrant center for culture and commerce in the region, and to provide support for residential and recreational activities. This effort will build on the Endowments’ earlier successes in downtown development, starting in the 1980s with the creation of the Cultural District and followed by our more recent work in civic design that began in the late 1990s. The alliance team will expand upon these earlier investments through grants directed to promote cultural vitality and diversity; high-quality, inspiring design; a range of residential opportunities; environmental sustainability; public art; open-space improvements; and other amenities. The team also will ensure that all citizens participate in the increased economic prosperity of downtown.