The Chamber's coordinated local advocacy efforts, in line with the Recharge & Recover PHL initiative's aspirations, have been on display recently as longtime Philadelphia Mayor James F. Kenney embarks on his final year in office and the city's upcoming elections are at the forefront.  

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, the Chamber hosted our Mayoral Luncheon for over 1,200 guests at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, just blocks away from City Hall. This annual bipartisan event – recognized as Philadelphia's largest mayoral forum to address the business community – centers upon the sitting Mayor's introduction of new economic development initiatives and sharing their vision for the city. 

February's luncheon was the last honoring Mayor Kenney, who is serving the final year of his second term. During the program, the Mayor sat down with Gregory E. Deavens, President and CEO, Independence Health Group, for a fireside chat.  

The Kenney Administration's four core priorities to move our city forward were outlined early in their dialogue:

  • Enhancing public safety; 
  • Increasing quality of life and building thriving neighborhoods, everywhere; 
  • Supporting a strong foundation for Philadelphia youth through historic investments; and 
  • Driving inclusive growth and economic opportunity to build a vibrant economy that benefits everyone.

Chellie Cameron, President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chamber, opened the program. She was followed by Bret Perkins, Senior Vice President, External and Government Affairs, Comcast Corporation, then Mike Innocenzo, President and CEO, PECO, an Exelon Company, and Chair, Chamber Board of Directors.  

The presence of these local leaders, evidencing their alignment on the Chamber's equitable inclusive growth agenda, was poignant in this setting, as they have been actively collaborating to ensure that the needs of local businesses are heard and advocated for amid the active 2023 Mayoral race.  

Leading up to the Tuesday, May 16, Primary Election, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, an Op-Ed titled "Viewpoint: Philadelphia's next mayor must realize crime, quality of life and job growth are interconnected" was published by the Philadelphia Business Journal.  

Penned by Cameron and Innocenzo, the Chamber's message, "We hope the next mayor will cosign a comprehensive approach that appropriately considers how crime reduction, quality-of-life improvements, and business and job growth in Philadelphia are interconnected. Working together, we can leverage our collective resources to show the world the 21st century city that we all believe in," was clear and aligned with the Kenney Administration's priorities for the remainder of his term.  

These priorities directly echo the Chamber's Recharge & Recover PHL aspirations, which were developed in coordination with several members of Mayor Kenney's administration and over 150 other business and civic leaders. In particular, through our local advocacy and other efforts, the Chamber has continued to prioritize our aspirations to become the most livable community in the Northeast, to become a national model for workforce enhancements, and to invest in our region's small, Black-, brown-, and locally-owned businesses.

Continuing the momentum at City Hall, Mayor Kenney presented his Administration's FY24 and final budget to City Council on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Among the topics discussed were further reductions to the city's Wage Tax and BIRT, increasing opportunity for businesses and residents alike.  

The Chamber applauds the budget proposal announced by Mayor Kenney, which prioritizes pro-growth policies. Our formal response can be accessed here.  

The Chamber team continues to track several trends related to our region's economic vitality and inclusivity, especially when compared to a set of peer regions, via the Inclusive Growth Dashboard. As we look to an era of new leadership in the city, and continue our Recharge & Recover PHL efforts, it will be critical for the Chamber and additional leaders within the business community to understand how our region performs in job growth, wage growth, small business growth, and poverty reduction – all of which drive our continued issue-based advocacy work.  

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Mayoral Democratic Candidate Forums: Hear from the City of Philadelphia's 2023 mayoral candidates on topics relevant to the regional business community in this two-session virtual series hosted by the Chamber on Tuesday, March 28, and Friday, March 31, 2023. Each session will feature different candidates. Guests are encouraged to register for both events to maximize their experience and hear from all participants. Mayoral Candidate Forums are free for Chamber members and open to Non-Members, as well.

Interested in promoting your business at an upcoming Chamber event? Sponsorship opportunities are available to fit a variety of goals and budgets. Contact sponsor@chamberphl.com for more information.