Philadelphia is doubling down on the fight against grime. In an expansion move that means business, the city's PHL Taking Care of Business Program is set to radically increase its capacity. Following Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's One Philly budget, the program proudly touted plans at the PHL Taking Care of Business Expansion Expo, which included hiring windfalls and environmental initiatives, according to the City of Philadelphia.
The expansion aims to hire an extra 200 locals, growing the program's commercial corridor coverage from 129 to 160, reported the City's Department of Commerce. These moves, with the municipal muscle of neighborhood nonprofits and cleaning companies, could really spruce things up. Coinciding with the Expo was an open house where community leaders could brush up on available assistance to maintain neighborhood cleanliness.
Mayor Parker, at the helm of this clean-push initiative, said, "I’m proud of the community engagement efforts at the PHL Taking Care of Business Expansion Expo today with our tremendous Department of Commerce and so many community leaders and organizations." She believes firmly in the TCB's role in cleansing city corridors and sparking economic opportunities, as the City of Philadelphia relayed.
To put the "green" in this "clean" endeavor, the city's PHL Taking Care of Business has partnered with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to tidy an extra 500 vacant lots. And in a collaboration, sometimes not seen, with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, tree planting and maintenance on those same corridors will also see a boost. Commerce Director Alba Martinez said that the program has grown from an initial 49 to now serving 129 commercial corridors thanks to Mayor Parker's One Philly budget, allowing for continued maintenance and growth for local businesses. Working alongside these efforts is the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, which Director Carlton Williams claims has been integral to cleaning over 6,000 blocks in one month, as mentioned by the City of Philadelphia.
At this expo, the programming wasn't just talks and handshakes. It included panel discussions for cleaning companies and resource-rich tables from cross-sector collaborators such as Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and the Community Life Improvement Project. Deputy Commerce Director Denis Murphy emphasized their commitment to reducing waste and fostering sustainability, explaining, "We are making meaningful progress in our collaborative efforts to advance Clean and Green efforts in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods." As the PHL Taking Care of Business opens new areas, they plan to request proposals, underscoring a data-driven approach to urban tidiness, as reported by the City of Philadelphia.
