Expansive economic plan is mapped out by Kenney
Mayor Kenney promised Wednesday to "increase the ease of doing business in Philadelphia" and bring back jobs, laying out his economic agenda to the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Kenney promised Wednesday to "increase the ease of doing business in Philadelphia" and bring back jobs, laying out his economic agenda to the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber president Rob Wonderling praised Kenney's "highly collaborative, highly engaging" approach, adding that Kenney's agenda is familiar because the mayor supported many recommendations of the chamber's "Grassroots Roadmap for Growth" campaign.
Wonderling said he wasn't concerned that Kenney's plans lacked details for proposed business and wage tax cuts. It's most important, he said, that "the mayor in a very simple statement rededicated himself to those reductions," which stalled for a time after the 2008 recession. Companies considering the city "love the quality of life, the diversity, the talent pool, but they always bring up tax policy."
One big topic Kenney didn't list: the cost of pensions for retired city workers, who outnumber current workers.
"We very much care deeply for state and municipal pension reform," Wonderling said. He noted that about one-sixth of the city's yearly budget, $600 million, funds pension liabilities not covered by investments or workers' payroll deductions.
"The mayor will work with Council and the city's unions on ways to improve the health of the pension fund," and his appointments are working with union reps on the pension board "to reduce fees," Kenney spokesman Mike Dunn said.
Kenney expressed support for a new-business website (phila.gov/business); expanding the Department of Licenses & Inspections' eClipse online permit and fee site; a list of local vendors to be hired at "big events" like this summer's Democratic National Convention; and an expanded roster of minority and female contractors for taxpayer-funded jobs.
He said he will hire agents to convince suburban and foreign companies to open branches in Philadelphia; add Spanish- and Korean-speaking aides to help immigrant businesses; increase funding for neighborhood business groups' cleaning, surveillance and storefront-upgrade programs; help businesses find workers; and recruit job mentors for ex-prisoners.
The mayor also said he will send a team to the yearly South by Southwest arts and technology conference in Austin to promote Philadelphia "as a hub for start-ups."
Among plans to broadly help business, Kenney said he will expand schools into community "hubs" for social services, along with "significant investment in our city's rec centers, libraries and parks."
The "single most important investment" on his list, he said, is expanding preschool programs so more mothers can prepare for work, a goal chamber leaders support.
"I know for many in the business community, your concern is . . . how are we going to pay for it?" the mayor acknowledged. He promised answers in his March 3 budget address.
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