New USPS program offers same-day delivery for local small businesses

PITTSBURGH — The U.S. Postal Service is providing more efficient and affordable delivery options for small businesses.

On Tuesday, the McKnight Road post office in Ross Township joined other post offices across the area in celebrating the launch of USPS Connect Local.

The new program places new emphasis on e-commerce shipping. It can replace in-town delivery services for small businesses by providing same-day delivery if packages are dropped off by 7 a.m. and the next day for anything after.

Businesses will have to be serving customers in the same area as the post office where they’re dropping off packages.

“USPS Connect helps businesses of all sizes compete in the e-commerce marketplace to better serve their customers,” said Mark Lawrence, with USPS Communications.

The new program is part of the Postal Service’s 10-year Delivering for America plan.

It first rolled out in New York and is now in Pennsylvania as it makes its way further down the East Coast.

“This endeavor is intended to give our customers additional options, which didn’t exist until today,” said Pittsburgh Postmaster Larry Slane.

In the last two years, the postal service said package volume has grown 37% and is expected to double by 2026.

“The package industry is changing and developing along with consumer trends and behaviors,” said Slane.

USPS intends to help more small businesses across western Pennsylvania reach their customers affordably and efficiently.

“We’ve listened to our customers to develop this program,” said USPS Manager of Operations Integration Nathan Luttringer. “We’re increasing next-day deliveries. We’re giving smaller businesses big business rates and all businesses more user-friendly ways to interact with us.”

USPS Connect Local is set to roll out to 3,400 post offices nationwide by September.

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