Business Notes Corporate Donations

Many Pittsburgh residents grieved last year when Californiabased Chevron bought Gulf, which made its home in the Pennsylvania city. The purchase wounded Pittsburgh's pride, and stands to cost it more than 2,000 jobs as Chevron shuts offices and shifts employees to other U.S. locations. In all, Pittsburgh Mayor Richard Caliguiri estimates that the Chevron-Gulf merger will result in the loss of nearly $75 million in income for residents of the area.

Chevron last week presented the Pittsburgh community with something in return. The giant oil company (1984 revenues: $27.8 billion) said it will donate the 85-acre Gulf research laboratories in nearby Harmarville to the University of Pittsburgh and will chip in a $3 million start-up grant as well. The firm said that the fully equipped 52-year-old labs would cost about $100 million to duplicate today.

The gift delighted the university, which has ambitious plans for the 54- building facility. Among other things, the school intends to bid on research contracts from corporations and government bodies and lease lab space to companies.