A message from the Chamber’s President & CEO Rob Wonderling to our community about the recent release of recommendations and actions from Recharge & Recover PHL.

Dear Friends,

For the past thirteen years, I have had one of the most rewarding and awesome opportunities for service. As your President and CEO, I have had the opportunity to serve you, your colleagues, and our region’s business community.

The experiences and results we have achieved together are based on my fervent belief that our business community, regardless of mission, size, or geography, drives our Greater Philadelphia region with innovation, creativity, commitment, engagement, and philanthropy.

Our efforts together in City Hall have been some of the most important work I have been privileged to champion. In my remaining few weeks as your CEO, I believe we currently have a tremendous opportunity to achieve real and meaningful tax reform to grow this great city.

As many of you know, for the past several months, your Chamber and numerous other partners throughout Philadelphia have been working in City Hall advocating for a reduction in the city’s wage and business taxes. With the end of the fiscal year fast approaching on June 30th, now is the time to act.

We know that regional and national competitors are outpacing Philadelphia when it comes to growing jobs and attracting new employers, which is in large part due to the fact that Philadelphia has the nation’s highest wage tax and is the only major city that double taxes it’s enterprises through a Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT). These taxes are a major reason many employers and employees choose to locate just outside of Philadelphia while still enjoying the region’s abundant benefits.

We firmly believe that reductions in wage and business taxes will lead to more jobs, more business-to-business commerce, an increased tax base for healthcare, education, and public services, less poverty, and more overall dollars flowing throughout Philadelphia.

We urge you to contact your City Council representative, calling for meaningful wage and business tax reductions. Click here to take action and contact your elected official today. There is not a moment to lose.

With much gratitude,

Rob

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