The one-day joint initiative supports opportunities for minority-owned small and medium-sized businesses in Philadelphia and Canada.
PHILADELPHIA (July 14, 2022) – Members of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia (the Chamber) and other Philadelphia business leaders will lead a delegation to Ottawa, hosted by the U.S. Embassy to Canada, on July 19, 2022.
The Greater Philadelphia Trade Visit to Canada, an initiative to develop trade opportunities and business relationships between Canadian and Philadelphian minority-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is a joint effort between the Chamber and the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada, where David L. Cohen serves as U.S. Ambassador to Canada.
“Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the economy both in the United States and Canada. This visit by a Philadelphia business delegation is an example of our shared commitment with Canada to building back better by supporting SMEs, with a special focus on SMEs owned by women, people of color, Indigenous peoples, and other underrepresented groups,” said Cohen. “I could not be prouder to bring together business leaders from my hometown of Philadelphia with their counterparts in Ottawa to discuss ways to promote inclusive economic growth on both sides of the border.”
The day-long event includes networking and panel discussions focused on forging more diverse, equitable, and prosperous economic futures for minority-owned small and medium-sized businesses in both regions. Panel discussion topics will include promoting economic growth, navigating cross-border trade, breaking down barriers for minority and women-led business owners, and leveraging diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility as an engine for business growth and success.
Participants from the Philadelphia delegation include members of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce executive committee. Additionally, musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform with members of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra in a private event at the Ambassador’s residence in Ottawa, further promoting the deep cultural and musical connections between Philadelphia and Canada.
Joining the delegation to Ottawa are more than a dozen representatives from Philadelphia minority-owned SMEs, including Spirovant, LucasPye BIO, EMSCO Scientific Enterprises, Adtigo Group, El Merkury, Black & Mobile, Tactile Group, Spectrum Workplace, and more.
“As a growing company, opportunities like this are crucial to our continued success,” says Dr. Tia Lyles-Williams, founder and CEO of LucasPye BIO, a life sciences contract development and manufacturing organization. “To engage in constructive dialogue with fellow business owners from near and far, form connections, strengthen relationships, and explore how we can not only grow our businesses, but also support the economic strength of our communities is an exceptional opportunity of which I’m thrilled to be a participant.”
This event is an expansion of the Chamber’s “Recharge and Recover” initiative, which was initiated to re-energize Philadelphia’s economy following the COVID-19 pandemic and lay the groundwork for continued economic success for the city of Philadelphia.
“At the heart of the Chamber’s mission is to provide our region’s local businesses – especially minority-owned small and medium-sized businesses – with the resources they need to help their businesses grow, and this event does just that,” says Susan Jacobson, Chair of the Board for the Chamber. “I’m grateful for Ambassador Cohen’s commitment to strengthening the ties between Canada and Philadelphia.”
