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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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.