Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker is geared up to transform the City of Brotherly Love into a business haven with her newly signed executive order. On Friday, Parker put her signature on the PHL Open for Business Executive Order, a sweeping decree aimed at streamlining bureaucratic processes and breaking down barriers for businesses in Philly. The City's Office of Business Services will be a whole new identity as it's rebranded to the Mayor’s Business Action Team, housed within the Department of Commerce.
Mayor Parker's ambitious plan, which centers on cooperation among all city departments, intends to create an environment where businesses of all sizes can thrive. In a statement, Parker said, “We are creating a new way for businesses to interact with City Hall by cutting through the maze of confusing, duplicative regulations that too often hold local businesses back. Together – as One Philly, a United City – we are working diligently to enhance a thriving economy that benefits all people who live, work, and do business in Philadelphia.” The initiative is a team effort, roping in the Department of Commerce, the Mayor’s Office of Policy Planning and Delivery, and various other departments that affect Philly's business landscape.
According to the City's announcement, Mayor Parker's strategy has its roots in her campaign trail days and tenure as a City Councilmember, where she heard firsthand the challenges faced by local entrepreneurs. Her order pledges to cut red tape and speed up timelines for approvals, licenses, and permits. This isn't just about promises but concrete changes, like the formation of a specialized unit to fast-track resolutions for businesses grappling with City permits and taxes.
Deputy Commerce Director Karen Fegely commented on reducing burdensome business requirements for easier processes, and there's also talk of going paperless to improve service delivery and diminish environmental impact. In an innovative move, the City will even employ a customer satisfaction survey to gauge the effectiveness of these improvements directly from Philly businesses themselves. The goal is to remove obstacles not just for food businesses, who are currently at the sharp end of the stick averaging 23.6 steps to open, but for all entrepreneurs citywide.
Every quarter, the PHL Open for Business initiative will report its progress and improvement to the Mayor, ensuring accountability and ongoing development. Collaboration with the City Council is on the agenda too, seeking legislative changes where necessary. Alba Martinez, the City's Commerce Director, encapsulated the mission, saying, “PHL Open for Business is about accelerating business growth through user-friendly, clear and efficient government services. We are committed to helping businesses save time and money, while improving access to services and operating at the speed of business. In line with this commitment, we will pursue opportunities to leverage technology to further enhance our services, transitioning to a paperless operation wherever possible, streamlining processes and reducing environmental impact. The Mayor’s Business Action Team will support businesses in multiple languages by providing one-on-one assistance and connecting them to a wide variety of resources. Within 30 days, we will launch a specialized unit within the Mayor’s Business Action Team to accelerate the resolution of challenges with City permits, licenses, taxes and payments. We will also institute a customer satisfaction survey to ensure our improvements align with the experiences of businesses across Philadelphia.”
