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Department of Commerce

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

Department of Commerce

As business activity begins to resume in Philadelphia, businesses should reopen with care by following the City’s industry-specific reopening health guidance. 
Businesses impacted by COVID-19 can learn more about information and resources available.

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
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What we do

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

  • Reasonable office rents and cost of living.
  • A ready workforce.
  • A central location on the Northeast corridor.

We work to:

  • Attract and keep a diverse set of businesses.
  • Revitalize neighborhoods by building vibrant commercial districts.
  • Support small businesses and improve access to funding.
  • Develop a strong talent pipeline.
  • Increase contracting opportunities for minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses.

Connect

Address
1515 Arch St.
12th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email business@phila.gov
Phone: (215) 683-2100
Social
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Our programs

A colorful mural on an old building says 'Shine'.

Keystone Opportunity Zones

Using tax exemptions to increase investment in areas lacking development.​
Big brick building with cars parked outside.

Keystone Innovation Zones

Providing tax credits to for-profit companies in the life sciences and tech.

Storefront Improvement Program

Helping business and property owners to upgrade their storefronts.
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Announcements

Announcement

NOW OPEN: Call For Ideas for Innovative Workforce Solutions

The Department of Commerce is seeking proposals that identify innovative, evidence-informed approaches to supporting under- and un-employed Philadelphians prepare for—and connect to—sustainable career pathways that pay a living wage.

Proposals must clearly identify how funding would be used to address workforce challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and/or exacerbated by long-standing racial injustice.

Learn more, including how to apply, here. The deadline to apply is October 28, 2020 at 3 p.m.

Announced on: Department of Commerce
Announcement

Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Is Virtual This Year!

On Monday, October 5, the City’s Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) will kick off the 36th annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, which highlights minority businesses and the resources that help them grow. This year’s MED Week, October 5-9, will be entirely virtual, with a series of engaging events and activities to help support minority businesses in Philadelphia.

Learn more, including how to sign up for events.

Announced on: Department of Commerce

Posts

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Events

Event
Monday, Oct. 5 - Friday, Oct. 9, 2020

Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week 2020

Providing minority business owners with access to resources and connections.

  • Sep
    29
    Event
    Temple SBDC Virtual Open Office Hours
    4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
    Event

    Temple SBDC Virtual Open Office Hours

    September 29, 2020
    4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, 1 hour
    Access experts who can help you navigate during COVID-19. Speak with someone face to face (virtually) who can help you. 

    Temple SBDC is holding open office hours via Zoom. You do not need to pre-register. 

    Office hours are Monday through Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional resources, webinars, and recordings can also be accessed via the Temple SBDC website.

    Click here to request an appointment
  • Sep
    29
    Event
    Construction Management Certificate Series
    6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
    Event

    Construction Management Certificate Series

    September 29, 2020
    6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, 2 hours


    Course Description

    Registration for the Construction Management Certificate 

    Pay in Full: $2,300.00

    Payment Plan: $2,500.00

    Down payment: $620.00

    Monthly payment: $235.00


    Course Outline

    The Construction Management Certificate Series is a 9-month series of classes designed to provide business management tools to existing and aspiring independent contractors. Participants who complete the series will earn a Special Certificate of Completion from the Temple University Fox School of Business and the Small Business Development Center.

    Requirements for graduation include:

    • Team project
    • Team resume
    • Team project presentation
    • Business concept paper
    • Course payment in full
    • Attendance in at least 80% of the classes

    Notes

    Under the payment plan, the down payment must be paid before the start of the series, while the payment due monthly must be paid on or before the first class of each month.

    Late payments with no communication attempts will result in the following

    - Students with payments past due 30 days or longer will not be able to enter class.  Upon payment in full, students will be able to resume attending class.
    - Students with payments past due 90 days or longer will be dropped from the class with no refunds and the payments will go to Temple University collections.


    Applies Towards the Following Certificates



    Registration Link: https://noncredit.temple.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=8361264
  • Sep
    30
    Event
    [SBDC CoE] Planning for a Resilient Tourism and Hospitality Target Market - LGBTQ+
    12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
    Zoom link to join: https://temple.zoom.us/j/99987204638
    Event

    [SBDC CoE] Planning for a Resilient Tourism and Hospitality Target Market - LGBTQ+

    September 30, 2020
    12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, 1 hour
    Zoom link to join: https://temple.zoom.us/j/99987204638
    map

    Date:9/30/20

    Time:12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (EDT)

    RegistrationDeadline: 9/30/20 11:00 AM (EDT)

    Fee:No Fee

    Pointof Contact: Jamie Shanker-Passero (215) 204-7282

    TrainingTopics: COVID-19 General Support

    Description: Withthe greatest amount of disposable, the LGBTQ+ market is often the one tocontinue to travel (or be the first to travel again) even during poor economictimes. It is a viable market for a number of organizations/destinations.However, companies need to understand it is more than just lip service to goafter the pink dollar. This webinar will highlight how gays can truly feelwelcome in just about every aspect of the tourism and hospitality experience

    Instructions:Zoom link send with registration confirmation

    RegistrationLink: https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/26917

  • Sep
    30
    Event
    Women’s Business Enterprise Center-East Virtual Annual Awards Ceremony
    4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
    Event

    Women’s Business Enterprise Center-East Virtual Annual Awards Ceremony

    September 30, 2020
    4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, 2 hours
    Women’s Business Enterprise Center-East will acknowledge the deserving corporations, government agencies and the women business enterprises that are making a difference by opening the doors of opportunity to women business owners. 

    Our network honors clients, suppliers, and companies by nominating them for one or more categories. Award criteria varies from regional contributions, to promotion of WBEs, and also different spend categories. All winners will be honored at the virtual Annual Awards Celebration being held on Wednesday, September 30th.

    Register for this event here. 
  • Sep
    30
    Event
    Rethinking Business in the Age of COVID-19
    6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
    Event

    Rethinking Business in the Age of COVID-19

    September 30, 2020
    6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, 3 hours


    Course Description


    These are challenging times and many of us are turning to entrepreneurship to regain financial stability. Others are rethinking their current business strategy to stay afloat. Are you ready to build the skills needed to ensure your business is profitable?

    Join this 10-week virtual program that helps you get focused and make critical business decisions. Our rebooted curriculum, industry expert guest speakers, and interactive activities will guide you as you stay motivated with your new network of fellow entrepreneurs.  Fine-tune your business concept, establish a strong organization, build lasting customer relations, and maintain profitable operations. 

    Six classes will take place Wednesday evenings and the remaining 4 classes can be taken at any time during their assigned week on the course calendar. 

    Topic Covered: 

    • Classes Titles: Business Writing

    • Business Concept

    • Project Management

    • Customer Relations

    • Accounting

    • Business Organization

    • Legal Considerations

    • Operations 


    Registration for Rethinking Business in the Age of COVID-19:  
    Tuition: $200   
    **NOTE**
    This course will be held online, and you must have your own laptop (equipped with a webcam) and internet capabilities!

    Registration Link: https://noncredit.temple.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=7206561
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