The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) has sent a questionnaire to each of the candidates for mayor, asking them to detail how they plan to create jobs and accelerate growth in Philadelphia. The goal of the initiative, part of the Roadmap for Growth campaign, is to educate the Philadelphia business community and other stakeholders within Philadelphia about the mayoral candidates’ economic growth agenda for the city. The candidates’ answers will be available next week at www.RoadmapforGrowth.com and www.gpcc.com.
Questions for the Candidates
- How many net new jobs will you create in your first term? How will you work with the business community to create them?
- How would you assist sole proprietors to grow into small enterprises and increase employment? Please provide a specific example of how you would do so.
- Specifically, how would you create efficiencies in Philadelphia’s operating budget and reform the cost structure of municipal government?
- How do you view the mayor’s role in creating a well-educated workforce? How do you specifically plan to carry out that vision?
- How do you view Philadelphia’s competitive standing compared to other cities with regard to taxes, regulations and job creation? How would you improve our city’s competitiveness as Mayor?
“The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce launched the Roadmap for Growth campaign because Philadelphia’s economy is growing, but there is more that can be done to accelerate this growth,” said Rob Wondering, President and CEO of the Chamber. “The Chamber believes it is very important for voters to know how the next mayor intends to work with the public and private sectors to grow more jobs and further economic development in the city.”
Once the mayoral candidates respond to the Chamber’s questions on jobs, growth and competitiveness, the Roadmap for Growth campaign plans to share the candidates’ answers far and wide with Chamber members, voters and the news media.
The Roadmap for Growth has two major events coming up. The next Issue Forum will be on “Business Innovation and Attraction” on March 4th from 8:00-10:00 am at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Roadmap for Growth Mayoral Debate will take place at on April 7th from 6:00-9:00 pm at The Kimmel Center. It will be aired live on NBC10 and Telemundo 62.
The Chamber is encouraging all citizens to engage in the online conversation about Philadelphia’s economy at www.roadmapforgrowth.com. Users can answer questions, participate in polls and provide what they think the next Mayor and City Council should do to grow the economy. People can also join the conversation through #PhillyRoadmap and on the Chamber’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Flickr pages. The current sponsors of the Roadmap for Growth are Comcast NBC10 Telemundo62, PECO Energy, Dilworth Paxson LLP, ACE Group, Brandywine Realty Trust, Temple University, Econsult Solutions Inc., AT&T, Citizens Bank, EisnerAmper and United Bank of Philadelphia.
