Jobs and Economic Development Group - May 15

A City That Works - May 15, 2008
Jobs and Economic Development Discussion Group at Einstein Medical Center

The participants in the Jobs and Economic Development Group generated an amazing energy around neighborhoods working internally to revitalize themselves.  These six strangers from the adjacent neighborhoods of Logan, Oak Lane, and Olney plus a single visitor from Center City carried on a very personal dialogue, enriching each other’s ideas.  New alliances were born, and business cards exchanged.

Opportunities in this neighborhood are in the trade skills, and unions are seen as a principal source of jobs. Expansion of apprenticeships and skilled labor opportunities were key measures for this group. They proposed that with help from the city, community initiatives can redirect lives toward sustainable professions, by sharing the experience and knowledge of their own people.

It’s likely that this report cannot do justice to the conversation around local skills transfer, and the participants are encouraged to continue the dialogue on the Great Expectations blog. 

-- Ellen Greenberg

What does this goal mean to you?

• A better neighborhood life is the yield of a higher employment rate.

• There are safe, attractive business districts in every neighborhood.

• Philadelphia has implemented a business development plan along the Delaware River that that also allows citizens access to the river.

• Decreasing crime resulting from a higher standard of living for all of Philadelphia’s citizens.

• Less dysfunction in my work with City Hall as they improve coordination across departments.

• It’s easier to start a business in Philadelphia.

• Philadelphia’s tax structure will encourage rather than discourage business.

• Professional contractors are in compliance with City Regulations, charging appropriate rates, and homeowners are getting a higher quality of workmanship.

• City contracts are awarded fairly.

• There are more job training opportunities, leading to a broader selection of job opportunities.

• Everyone has equal opportunity to have a sustainable career and earn a living wage.

• Opportunities to apprentice and join a trade union.

• Programs are established to give professional skills to young people.

• The City is taking advantage of Recreation Center space to support skill development programs.

• We are using our individual talents to improve the neighborhood.

• Citizens are helping each other locally, sharing their expertise and serving as mentors.

Performance measures (What success would look like)

• Measure satisfaction with the breadth of services provided by the City in support of business start up.

• Measure improved synthesis of city initiatives with programs and incentives offered by state and federal programs.

• Measure increasing percentage of minority and women starting businesses in Philadelphia and percentage awarded city contracts.

• Measure increasing percentage of small businesses taking advantage of tax breaks for compliance with hiring practice guidelines.

• Target 100 percent of contractors hired by the city in compliance with performance guidelines and participation levels for minorities/women.

• Measure increasing percentage of contracts awarded to local businesses.

• Measure increasing percentage of people working in Philadelphia also live here.

• Measure satisfaction that retail and business districts are clean, safe, and well maintained.

• Target enforcement of current L&I and Phila. Commercial Development Corp. (PCDC) standards for upkeep.

• Measure improvements to demographic distribution of skilled workers across all neighborhoods.

• Measure the success of integrating ex-offenders and their job retention.

• Measure increasing percentage of apprenticeships available in unionized programs.

• Target a 25 percent increase in trade training initiatives within 18 months.

• Target the creation of 12 test models across the city’s neighborhoods supporting local skills transfer initiatives, neighborhoods working internally to revitalize themselves.  (Local skills transfer initiatives refers to the concept of local entrepreneurs and craftsmen teaching a craft or business to young people, the unemployed, and workers in need of retraining, sponsored by the city.)

• Measure the level of employment penetration achieved for participants in local skills transfer initiatives – success in redirecting lives to sustainable professions.  

• Target ongoing expansion of the number of entrepreneurs and skilled craftsmen participating in local skills transfer initiatives.

• Target a 50 percent reduction in the city’s poverty level within 10 years. [Courtesy of Barack Obama; what’s good for the nation is good for Philadelphia.]

Customer-service standards

• There is a city department dedicated to providing full service to business start up initiatives. They are the single channel to access city services through the entire process of establishing their business in Philadelphia.

• The city proactively organizes community and faith-based organizations in local economic development efforts, and supports outreach initiatives to explore methods and successes elsewhere.

• City departments provide the services they’re supposed to. For example, Licensing Department actually facilitates getting a license.

• City departments respond to the needs of consumers on a sustained level; they finish the job they start, and remain professional throughout the process.

• Where there is a cross-utilization of city services, the delivery of services is streamlined across the multiple departments involved.

• The city delivers on the Wireless Philadelphia Initiative.

• City employees and contractors have the right skills to do their job.

• Citizens seeking help or information from the city are no longer passed from agency to agency.

• The employees of each city department are clear on the objectives, standards, and responsibilities of their role.

• The city ensures that each department’s critical functions are addressed, and has a zero tolerance for non-performance of those critical functions.