A message from the Chamber’s President & CEO Rob Wonderling to our community about working together with City Council to create family-sustaining jobs for our citizens.

Dear Friends,

A month into 2021 and we’ve hit the ground running. The continued rollout of the vaccine is boosting our spirits, we’re doing our part to support the jobs of the future, our members are predicting a brighter economic outlook in the coming year, and we continue to expand our network of diverse leaders.

However, in the shadow of these bright spots, our speedy and inclusive recovery from the past year’s loss of jobs and the shuttering of commercial corridors is not a forgone conclusion. In addition to the private sector programs being introduced, recovery will require an almost constant dialogue between our public officials and business leaders to unlock the keys to our city’s competitive success.

Inclusive recovery, followed swiftly by growth, will only occur when all parties agree to advance operating budgets, regulations, and local legislation that will allow all sizes of businesses to grow, supports the generation of more Black and brown enterprises throughout the city, and reverses the decline of underrepresented minority enterprises in our economy.

And, above all else, we must ask ourselves “Will these actions support the creation of family-sustaining jobs for our citizens?” It is the job creators, our regional businesses, who are going to accelerate inclusive recovery, but only if we can do so in partnership with those in public service.

Earlier this week, the Chamber and our partners announced the intention to build a new partnership among government, business, and community to confront the greatest economic stress our city has seen in three decades. Through this partnership we hope to answer this question with a resounding “YES” in the coming months and years.

We invite Chamber members who are interested lending their voice to this partnership to contact Will Carter (wcarter@chamberphl.com), Vice President, Local Government Advocacy & Engagement.

Stay safe, connected, and healthy, and continue to let us know how we can help.

Rob

Rob Wonderling
President & CEO
The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia