As we seek to fulfill our aspiration of making Philadelphia the healthiest and most livable region in the Northeast, we have made several short, mid-, and long-term commitments to action against our goals and our Recharge & Recover PHL objectives.

Cross-Sector Partnerships

The Chamber has partnered with a number of other regional organizations to bring us closer to our aspiration of increased health and livability. In the coming weeks, we will be collaborating with a regional research partner to identify the key factors that should be included in an assessment of the health and livability of our region and to determine how the business community can have a positive impact.

A similar partnership is the Ready. Set. Philly! (RSP!) initiative, a collaboration including the Chamber and a broad and diverse coalition of businesses and organizations focused on reopening and relaunching Philadelphia’s economy, restoring public well-being, and reinvigorating day and nighttime activity in downtown Philadelphia. The goal of this initiative is to help provide information and direction to encourage, support, and promote a safe return to Philadelphia for work and play.

RSP! plans to achieve the following set of results by December 2021:

  • Increase the average office building occupancy by 60% to 65%.
  • Increase Center City monthly hotel occupancy to 65%.
  • Increase SEPTA monthly ridership to 50%.
  • Increase foot traffic on the streets of Philadelphia to 85% of pre-pandemic levels.

Progress on these goals, and the initiative as a whole, will be monitored by partnering with Center City District, the City of Philadelphia, the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association, University City District, SEPTA, and employers and building owners who will report monthly data.

View the September 2021 report, Monitoring Philadelphia’s Economic Recovery, to see progress and gradual increases on hotel tax revenue, SEPTA and PATCO ridership, and pedestrian volumes in the Market Street office district – all positive outcomes for the goals outlined above.

Should you be interested in engaging in this work, please contact our member engagement department.

Organizational Adjustments

During the summer of 2021, the Chamber organized its initiatives aimed at making Greater Philadelphia a better place to live and work under a new department: Community & Culture. Through a combination of leadership development, networking, and discussions, the Chamber’s Community & Culture business unit will ensure continued improvements to the region’s quality of life that contribute to retaining and attracting businesses and workers.

Out of this business unit, we will hold several related programs and events, starting on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, with an event about “the great reshuffling” —a phenomenon dubbed by Zillow describing the migration of people, often seeking out lower housing costs, to new locations now that many have been liberated from a daily commute —and its impact on business. Alexandra Lee, and economist for Zillow, will join us to discuss how Philadelphia stacks up on a national scale in terms of its affordability, retaining and attracting businesses and workers, and creating a livable region. In addition, a panel of local leaders whose work contributes to the region’s livability, including Clint Randall, Director of Research, JLL, will offer insights. Register for the program »

Recharge & Recover PHL

Join regional leaders as we prioritize regional health and safety, create opportunities for displaced workers, and bolster support for small, Black and brown businesses in a shared effort to stabilize, energize, and prepare Greater Philadelphia for a durable recovery.