
Philadelphia's streets are set to become cleaner and greener as Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's PHL Taking Care of Business (TCB) Clean Corridors Program kicks into higher gear. According to a recent announcement by the City of Philadelphia, the program, which aims to support small businesses and improve the quality of life in neighborhood districts, is undergoing a significant expansion, funded by the One Philly Budget. The City of Brotherly Love is investing $23.9 million to extend the reach of the TCB program, hiring an additional 200 locals and increasing coverage to 160 commercial corridors.
The expansion also sets out to aggressively enhance environmental efforts, with the collaboration of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, to clean up 500 vacant lots. To further beautify the city, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation will work alongside TCB to plant more trees. These initiatives promise to not only offer a sight for sore eyes but also to significantly improve the health and well-being of the city's residents.
Employment is a focal point for the TCB program. By teaming up with community-serving nonprofits and minority-owned businesses, TCB has successfully provided 255 Philadelphians with jobs as cleaning ambassadors. Moreover, the new funding is slated to boost this workforce by almost double. Reflecting the success of TCB's workforce training, "191 Cleaning Ambassadors to date have completed an online CareerSafe OSHA-10 certification with 23 earning their certificate in 2023," as mentioned in the city's report.
Small, minority-owned cleaning businesses are also benefiting from the TCB program, experiencing growth in city contracts from $221,000 in 2020 to a staggering $2.16 million in 2023. The program's effectiveness reverberates through the cleanliness of the city: 75 percent of TCB corridors scored between 1 and 2 on the Litter Index Score in 2023, a notable improvement from the previous year. Moreover, TCB crews removed an impressive 168,599 bags of trash from these corridors – a clear indication of the program's tangible impact on urban cleanliness.
As the TCB program broadens its canopy, tree maintenance efforts are thriving. A slew of community organizations, alongside PHL TCB Ambassadors, are nurturing 242 new trees planted across various commercial corridors. This green initiative is supported by a host of benefactors, including the William Penn Foundation and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation USA, ensuring that these saplings grow to fortify the city's green infrastructure.
Looking ahead, the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives is mapping out a comprehensive strategy to combat litter, illegal dumping, and graffiti, all while upholding sustainable practices. The PHL TCB program is a cornerstone of these endeavors, forging partnerships that enrich the city's communities and small businesses alike. Through such collaborative efforts, Philadelphia sets a hopeful precedent for cities everywhere, uniting in the ongoing battle for a cleaner, more sustainable milieu.