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Department of Commerce

Making Philadelphia a business-friendly city where companies choose to start, stay, and grow.

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Department of Commerce

Services

Meet your area’s business services manager
Find loans through the Philadelphia Business Lending Network
Do business with the City
Register as a minority, woman, or disabled-owned business
Find location and zoning information
Pay your business taxes
See all Services

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
Phone: (215) 683-2100
Social
Facebook
Twitter
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Business Resource Finder

Looking for guidance or support?

Connect with organizations that can help you start, run, and grow your business.

Go to the finder

Programs

The Catalyst Fund

Fueling the growth of small businesses and entrepreneurs in Philadelphia.

Storefront Improvement Program

Helping business and property owners to upgrade their storefronts.
Man on a ladder installing a security camera.

Business Security Camera Program

Funding for businesses to get surveillance cameras.

PHL Taking Care of Business Clean Corridors Program

Creating employment opportunities for residents while keeping Philadelphia’s neighborhood commercial corridors clean.
A woman working at her small business.

Quality Jobs Program

Investing in businesses that create new jobs with living wages and health insurance benefits for Philadelphia residents.
An open hand holding a key

Commercial Real Estate Acquisition Loan (CREAL) Program

Funding small businesses to purchase commercial property or real estate.
See all Programs

Posts

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Events

  • Jun
    17
    Event
    Advisory Network For Small Business Information Session
    9:00 am to 10:00 am
    1500 Market St suite 3500 w, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    Event

    Advisory Network For Small Business Information Session

    June 17, 2025
    9:00 am to 10:00 am, 1 hour
    1500 Market St suite 3500 w, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    map
    Join PIDC to find out how successful Philadelphia entrepreneurs used advisory boards to build a strong foundation and reposition their businesses for sustainable and profitable growth. Plus, learn how you can do the same with an advisory team of professional volunteers from the new Philadelphia nonprofit organization, the Advisory Network for Small Business (ANSB).

    This session will include:
    • Experienced professionals from the ANSB teams
    • Entrepreneurs who leveraged advisory teams to transform their businesses in 12 months
    • Q & A with ANSB team members and entrepreneurs

    Click here to register!
  • Jun
    17
    Event
    OEO Doing Business in the City: How to do Business with the School District
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    Online
    Event

    OEO Doing Business in the City: How to do Business with the School District

    June 17, 2025
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 2 hours
    Online
    map

    The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) offers Doing Business in the City Workshops to help businesses navigate opportunities, resources, and processes for successfully contracting with the City of Philadelphia. These workshops are designed to support minority-, women-, and disabled-owned businesses (M/W/DSBEs) by providing guidance on:

    • City procurement processes
    • Certification requirements for becoming a registered M/W/DSBE
    • How to find and bid on City contracts
    • Networking opportunities with City departments, agencies, and prime contractors

    The workshops equip businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to access City contracts, expand capacity, and grow sustainably, aligning with Philadelphia's commitment to economic opportunity for all.

    The How to Do Business with the School District Workshop provides businesses with valuable insights into partnering with the School District of Philadelphia to access contracting opportunities. This workshop equips business owners with the knowledge and tools needed to access opportunities with the School District of Philadelphia, helping them build strong partnerships and contribute to the district's educational mission.

    Presenter: Eric Watkins, Philadelphia School District

    Register for this workshop.

  • Jun
    18
    Event
    SBDC: APEX presents RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs: Understanding the Difference with the GSA
    11:00 am to 12:00 pm
    Online
    Event

    SBDC: APEX presents RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs: Understanding the Difference with the GSA

    June 18, 2025
    11:00 am to 12:00 pm, 1 hour
    Online
    map
     DoD Mentor-Protégé Program Information, Government Contracting, Government Industrial Base (GIB) Readiness


    Join us for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) training on “RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs: Understanding the Difference.”

    This webinar will help you learn how to develop effective responses to Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Quotes (RFQs). During this training, we will explain the differences in these requests and provide small businesses with the most effective strategies for creating effective responses.

    This webinar is free and open to all industries.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • Understanding the power of responding to RFIs and Sources Sought Notices
    • Tips on creating effective responses
    • Insights from federal contracting officers
    • Common mistakes to avoid

    Presenters: Claudia Hadley & Kemba Gilmore, Small Business Specialists, GSA OSDBU

    Register Here.

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Press Releases

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