Philadelphia's Taking Care of Business (TCB) Program is cleaning up the city's streets one bag of trash at a time, and the numbers show it - in just the first year of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's administration, TCB has exceeded expectations. The City of Philadelphia announced an impressive expansion of its original endeavor, initially working with 49 commercial corridors to a whopping 155 and seeing a reduction in litter scores from an average index of 2.0 in 2022 to 1.54 in 2024.
"I promised on Day One to make Philadelphia the Safest, Cleanest, Greenest city with Access to Economic Opportunity for All," Mayor Parker stated, highlighting her commitment to transforming the city's public spaces into more environmentally friendly zones; the TCB program not only addresses litter and graffiti but also focuses on job creation, providing training, and boosting local employment by swelling the ranks of cleaning ambassadors from 249 to 324.
The Department of Commerce reports that TCB's cleaning ambassadors are making significant inroads, picking up 177,302 bags of litter in a single year and expanding the support given to businesses and residents who, now, walk streets that are more inviting. According to Commerce Director Alba Martinez, "Over 900,000 residents live within a quarter mile walk of the areas being served by the TCB program," while Deputy Commerce Director Denis Murphy adds that cleaner sidewalks have been a boon to local stores, translating to real gains as more customers feel comfortable patronizing these spruced-up commercial areas.
Organizations contracted through TCB, now totaling 39, including the Olney Community Collaborative and the East Falls Development Corporation, have recognized this initiative's potential. Daniel Marshall, a TCB Cleaning Manager from Impact Services, told the City of Philadelphia about the sense of accomplishment he feels while improving his neighborhood.
