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Department of Commerce

What we do

The Department of Commerce helps businesses—large and small—thrive in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is the ideal home for your business, offering:

  • A central location along the Northeast corridor.
  • A ready and talented workforce.
  • Competitive office rents and commercial real estate costs.
  • Vibrant commercial districts and growing innovation industries.
  • World-class dining, history, and cultural attractions.

We work to:

  • Attract and grow a diverse set of businesses.
  • Revitalize neighborhood commercial districts throughout the city.
  • Support small businesses and improve their access to funding.
  • Build a strong talent pipeline.
  • Increase economic opportunities for historically underserved business owners.

Connect

Address
1515 Arch St.
12th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email business@phila.gov
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Programs

Events

  • May
    8
    SBDC - Business 102: Ready to Business Plan? [Start-Up Essentials]
    6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
    Online

    SBDC - Business 102: Ready to Business Plan? [Start-Up Essentials]

    May 8, 2024
    6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, 2 hours
    Online
    map

    Do you have a business concept in mind but aren’t sure of the next steps? Join SBDC for this presentation, it's all about turning that concept into a concrete plan, and we’ll discuss details around revenue streams, market research, industry research, competitive analysis, and more. This is a great follow-up to our Business 101 class, but you can also jump right in.

    Attendees will be able to:
    -Utilize market research and business planning tools to prepare their business feasibility plan
    -Identify their start-up costs and business funding needs
    -Understand different funding options

    Target Audience:
    - Start-up businesses
    - Individuals in the ideation and research stages
    - Individuals preparing to launch their business
    - Intermediate businesses looking for refreshers

    Harry Michel, a Temple SBDC Business Corridor Consultant, will be presenting this webinar. As an Entrepreneur, Educator, Strategist, and Designer, Harry has brought these disciplines together to solve complex operational problems and tell compelling product stories.

    As a startup founder, he utilizes his passion for solving problems with technology to provide a premium experience that removes the friction of vehicle ownership from the lives of our customers. This was made possible through scaling Locus Mobility, a B2B2C company from a single market to 5 markets nationally.

    Harry has designed pitch decks that have raised over $500K in venture capital investment from investors and managed large-scale partnership projects for industry-leading companies. Throughout his career, he has designed visually compelling presentations using data and market research for meetings and partnerships with transportation companies such as Uber, Lyft, Hertz, and SEPTA Regional Rail.


    Register Here

  • May
    15
    OEO Doing Business in the City - Doing Business with SEPTA
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

    OEO Doing Business in the City - Doing Business with SEPTA

    May 15, 2024
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 2 hours

    The City is providing businesses with the resources, education, and knowledge needed to thrive now and throughout the year. Did you hear the good news? We are expanding capacity-building efforts for businesses with a series of monthly, educational workshops. 

    The goal of each workshop is to share pathways toward generational wealth for minority-, women-, disabled-owned businesses. Join us this year to:

    • Learn about available resources.
    • Explore opportunities to grow with City contracts.
    • Develop a strategy to pursue business proposals.
    • Network with like-minded businesses.

    Register for this workshop.

    Topic: Doing Business with SEPTA

    Presenters: Muschi Jean-Baptiste, Director, DBE Program Office, Karen Cyphers, Contract Administrator, and Tiffany L. King, Manager, DBE Program Office

    This virtual series is from the Department of Commerce, Office of Economic Opportunity. For additional information, please contact Jennifer Wise at Jennifer.Wise@phila.gov

  • May
    16
    SBDC - Free Library Digital Resources to Help Your Business
    4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
    Online

    SBDC - Free Library Digital Resources to Help Your Business

    May 16, 2024
    4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, 1 hour
    Online
    map

    If you’re currently thinking about entrepreneurship for the first time or you’re an established business owner, the BRIC has resources to help support your current needs. Join and Learn how BRIC's extensive digital resources can help your business start, grow, and thrive! Join a business librarian in this virtual session for an introduction to BRIC's business databases and services, plus, learn how to book a librarian!

    All resources are accessible remotely with your Free Library of Philadelphia library card number and PIN. Don't have a library card? Get one here: https://catalog.freelibrary.org/MyResearch/register

    Attendees will be able to:
    - Review research database options
    - Learn how to generate sales leads, conduct a competitive analysis, and start demographic research
    - Discover free resources, such as sample business plans, online courses, & more

    Target Audience:
    - Budding Entrepreneurs
    - Start-up Small Businesses
    - Philadelphia residents

    This webinar will be presented by Birch Mezzaroba (they/them), a business librarian at the Business Resource and Innovation Center (BRIC). As a business librarian, Birch helps Philadelphia-area business owners and entrepreneurs conduct research to set themselves up for success. They are passionate about using their skill set as a librarian to help folks achieve their goals. Before joining the library about a year ago, Birch held roles in education and with Philadelphia small businesses.

    Register Here


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