Small Business Saturday
Saturday, November 26 is Small Business Saturday – a national event celebrating America’s small businesses. In 2015, 95 million people went out to shop on Small Business Saturday, and this year I want Philadelphia to help increase that number. Making purchases at local shops has a tangible impact on our economy.... Learn More
Business is Booming in Chinatown
Commerce Director Harold T. Epps will continue his ongoing tour of the City’s many commercial corridors on Friday, November 18 when he visits Chinatown and checks out some of their businesses. To find out more about what it’s like to do businesses in Chinatown, we talked to Samuel Chueh from... Learn More
National Apprenticeship Week
The 2nd Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is right around the corner, happening November 14-20! National Apprenticeship Week, designated by the U.S. Department of Labor, is an opportunity for the apprenticeship community to tell their story and an invitation to businesses, career seekers, students and others to learn about the... Learn More
Growing Philadelphia’s Talent Pipeline: Lessons Learned in Germany
Learn more about Philadelphia’s Talent Development initiatives in this semi-regular blog series. Last month, Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce had the opportunity to visit Frankfurt and Berlin to learn more about Germany’s premier dual-vocational training models and world-renowned apprenticeship programs. Highlights of the trip included visits to the Provadis School of... Learn More
Venturize: Get Help Navigating the Lending Landscape
The following post has been adapted from content provided by Opportunity Finance Network, a partner of the Department of Commerce. In the wake of the recession there has been a rise in the number of online lenders offering small business loans, many of which promise owners “quick and easy” cash... Learn More
Fifth StartupPHL Call for Ideas Announced
The City’s platform to fund projects that grow Philadelphia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, StartupPHL Call for Ideas, is looking for your good ideas. PHILADELPHIA — Mayor Jim Kenney and Commerce Director Harold T. Epps announced that StartupPHL is now accepting applications for the fifth round of Call for Ideas, a grant program to... Learn More
Department of Commerce Returns from Trade and Investment Mission to Europe
A delegation led by Philadelphia Commerce Director Harold T. Epps recently returned from multi-day trade and investment mission to Europe, with stops in Germany, France and Portugal. Members of the delegation began arriving in Germany on September 24 and the final day of the mission was September 30. The group... Learn More
Growing Philadelphia’s Talent Pipeline: STEMcityPHL
Learn more about Philadelphia’s Talent Development Initiatives in this semi-regular blog series. STEMcityPHL is a campaign to build public will for excellent STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education and opportunities, ensuring that all Philadelphians can participate in the economy of today and tomorrow. Launched by the Mayor’s Office of Education... Learn More
Small Business Spotlight: Printfresh with Amy Voloshin
Started in 2006, Printfresh is a fashion prints studio housed in a renovated factory in Olde Kensington. The studio boasts many notable clients, including Urban Outfitters, Pottery Barn, Mango, American Eagle, Zara, H&M, and more. To learn more about the studio’s success, we chatted with cofounder and creative director Amy... Learn More
Is your business prepared for an emergency? These free workshops will help!
September is National Preparedness Month, so there is no better time for your business to do some emergency planning! National Preparedness Month was created by FEMA to encourage people to prepare for emergencies and disasters, whether they are personal or on a larger scale that impacts an entire community. The... Learn More
Philly Free Streets is September 24th, 8am – 1pm
Temporary street closures from Front & South Streets to Martin Luther King Drive invites people to walk, play, and bike in the street. The inaugural Philly Free Streets event encompasses a 7+ mile route with free, family-friendly fitness activities and educational programming about the City’s waterways, public art, architecture, environment,... Learn More
2016 Storefront Challenge Nominations due Sept. 15th
Storeowners throughout Philadelphia put their best face forward every day. They’re a big part of what makes your neighborhood feel like home. Nominate your favorite for the 2016 Storefront Challenge, a citywide contest recognizing Philly’s best storefront façade improvement projects! Any store that has taken the initiative to improve their... Learn More
Revitalizing Tacony One Storefront at a Time
Commerce Director Harold T. Epps will continue his ongoing tour of the City’s many commercial corridors tomorrow when he visits Tacony and checks out businesses along Torresdale Avenue. To find out more about what it’s like to do businesses in Tacony, we talked to Alex Balloon of the Tacony CDC. What... Learn More
City announces lowest unemployment for month of June since 2007
On Friday, Mayor Kenney and Commerce Director Harold T. Epps announced that Philadelphia’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.9%–the lowest unemployment rate for the month of June since 2007. “During the first six months of my Administration, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that Philadelphians in all neighborhoods can be part... Learn More
Small Business Spotlight: Message Agency with Marcus Iannozzi
Message Agency is a communications firm that focuses on serving charitable organizations. Unlike other businesses that have grown recently, Message Agency has a long, rich history as a startup in Philadelphia. To investigate Message Agency’s success over the years, we chatted with founder Marcus Iannozzi.