Playing Santa in Easter season, Gov. Ed Rendell came to Pittsburgh yesterday to announce state capital budget grants for a dozen projects in the region that he boasted would provide thousands of construction jobs and more than 1,000 permanent positions.

The projects range from a mixed-use industrial and office complex near the Pittsburgh International Airport to a YMCA in the Hill District. The funds were generated by a state bond issue authorized by the state's Redevelopment Capitol Assistance Program.

In a news conference in the Allegheny County Courthouse, the governor was joined by County Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

Noting that the state had made the selections of favored projects with the advice of the two local officials, Mr. Rendell advised disappointed applicants, "it's not my fault," while adding that, "For those of you who are getting grants today, I have the final say."

Mr. Rendell said that the state funds would help attract roughly $476 million in total private investment to the selected projects. He said that all of the projects were selected with an eye toward their economic development potential.

The full list of projects comprised:

• $2 million to help turn 300 acres of formerly strip-mined land in Findlay into the Chapman Commerce Center, a mixed-use industrial park.

• $4 million for a retail and residential development along the Port Authority's LRT line.

• $4 million to help build an 849-space parking garage as part of the $115 million Bakery Square project, in Pittsburgh's Larimer neighborhood.

• $3 million for the Lysle Boulevard mixed-use development to connect the nearby main public roadway with RIDC Industrial Center of McKeesport.

• $3 million to help build a new, nearly 43,000-square-foot YMCA in the Hill District.

• $2.5 million for infrastructure improvements that will help continue progress on the Oak Hill mixed-income housing development in the Hill District.

• $2 million for traffic improvements in the East Liberty neighborhood that will help restore the traditional street grid disrupted during controversial redevelopment efforts a generation ago.

• $2 million for renovation costs for the Garden Theater building in the North Side.

• $1.5 million to continue developing the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.

• $1 million for renovations that will transform George Westinghouse's original air brake factory into a new home for the Pittsburgh Opera.

• $1 million for improvements at Heinz Hall.

• $1 million to convert the Monroeville ExpoMart into office space while transforming the former Wickes Furniture building into a 102,000-square-foot convention center that will also house the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Monroeville.