Philadelphia is a city of builders, dreamers, and doers. Its heartbeat comes from the small businesses across the city. The Philadelphia Small Business Catalyst Fund is a valuable resource for businesses with a clear growth plan.
By offering grants of up to $50,000 and advisory services, the Catalyst Fund supports businesses that show need, growth potential, and economic impact. The goal is to help them grow their operations. This includes boosting production or service capacity and meeting market demand. This comprehensive support ensures they have the tools to achieve long-term stability.
In Fiscal Year 2026, the fund invested $10.7 million into 304 businesses. This shows that when Philadelphia backs its entrepreneurs, the whole city benefits.
The Philadelphia Small Business Catalyst Fund is an initiative by the City’s Department of Commerce. It promotes collaboration and helps businesses grow throughout the city.
To illustrate the impact of the program, the Department of Commerce is highlighting Catalyst Fund recipients throughout Philadelphia. Among these featured businesses is Phield House — an indoor sports facility. Here’s their story.
A place for the community
After more than two decades of working in marketing and promotions, Mark Solomon reached a professional crossroads and began to think deeply about what was missing in the city around him. He realized there was a void in Philadelphia’s recreational facilities, noting that while the city had recreation centers and school gyms, there were very few modern, family-focused indoor sports facilities. He also observed that some local youth were practicing for sports in lunchrooms and hallways. Motivated to come up with a solution, Solomon established Phield House in 2017.
Phield House is a 25,000-square-foot indoor sports facility in Center City Philadelphia. It features synthetic turf fields, a multi-purpose court, two batting tunnels with state-of-the-art training equipment, an all-purpose party room, and a WiFi lounge. Turning his vision into reality required a mental shift toward deep collaboration that aligned Solomon with a strong network of supportive friends, operational partners, and local school leaders to build a thriving, community-centered ecosystem for Philadelphia’s young athletes.
Phield House’s mission is to provide a unique and safe environment for the Philadelphia community that fosters wellness, fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship. By offering facility space to groups that lack athletic venues, the business serves as an essential local community hub. The thousands of athletes, students, coaches, and families who’ve enter the facility demonstrate the clear demand for accessible indoor athletic facilities across Philadelphia.
He even has longtime visitors, especially charter schools, that have used the facility regularly since it opened. “They’re able to have teams, practices, and put kids in a situation where they can have a great school experience, train and get better, and perhaps play at the next level in a collegiate program,” said Solomon. “For me to be able to say that our team had a part in that, it’s very fulfilling.” Solomon said that Phield House serves as a hub for kids who either live in the neighborhood, [live] in the surrounding neighborhoods, or may not be in the best socio-economic situations. “To get them access to a place like this, it’s awesome!” Solomon shared.
Phield House’s impact doesn’t stop there. By prioritizing local hiring, Solomon created job opportunities that directly strengthen the growth of the regional economy. “[We have] two full-time [staff], and then a variety of part-time [staff],…then subcontractors,” said Solomon.
Upgrading the business facility and services
When Phield House first opened, it had a couple of pitching machines and other newer items. As the facility’s popularity grew and usage increased, however, circumstances shifted. “We [had] many issues – just lots of wear and tear,” said Solomon, Phield House CEO. While the increased foot traffic was helpful to bring in revenue, the business experienced hurdles that necessitated external funding overtime, including limited storage space and equipment upgrades. To alleviate the issues and provide a more comfortable experience for users of the facility, Solomon began upgrading the space.
He utilized the Catalyst Fund grant to improve professional operations, along with upgrades to the facility and sports supplies. This includes the installation of HitTrax technology to track player performance metrics in real time and the purchase of new high-quality pitching machines, hitting mats, replacement nets, and more. The business also procured branded basketballs to enhance marketing and asset control. Solomon shared that he is also planning to grow the business further. “We do have aspirations to potentially expand if space allows within the building,” he said.
Apply for the Catalyst Fund
To get started, view the grant FAQs for eligibility requirements. Then, apply for the Catalyst Fund today.
If you need assistance with applying, the Mayor’s Business Action Team (MBAT) provides personalized assistance in multiple languages to entrepreneurs for all aspects of doing business in Philadelphia. Contact MBAT by emailing business@phila.gov or calling 215-683-2100.
