National and international audiences are hearing news of the opportunities and growth in Greater Philadelphia thanks to the efforts of the Chamber’s Economic Competitiveness team. Guided by a comprehensive regional marketing strategy, the team has launched some new activities over the past six months to grow awareness of Greater Philadelphia as a top global destination for business.
Learn more about these initiatives and their impact on attracting and expanding companies in the region, and see how you can join us in amplifying Greater Philadelphia’s story.
Out of Market Storytelling
The Chamber shares Greater Philadelphia’s story on our Select Greater Philadelphia (Select) website, social media channels, and e-newsletters. Our original content focuses on important industry developments and highlights the quality of life and benefits of doing business in Greater Philadelphia.
One recent article, “Building Momentum in Greater Philadelphia: Our 2023 Year in Review,” which appeared in our Momentum e-newsletter (sent to over 8,000 stakeholders and site selectors), shared a roundup of news that supported our message that the Greater Philadelphia region is a world-class destination to live, work, and do business.
To build engagement through compelling content, we recently launched a Momentum Makers video series to share the stories of companies located or expanding in the region with others considering a similar move. The first episode featured Chamber member Leonardo Helicopters US. It included a short video outlining the Italian company’s reasons for locating in Greater Philadelphia, citing the quality workforce, access to a large airfield, and an ample customer base.
Momentum Makers complements our Discovery Starts with Me video series, which was created to support the Chamber’s talent attraction and retention efforts. Talent working in Greater Philadelphia’s growing life sciences sector are featured, sharing their reasons for choosing our region as a place to live and work. You can watch the series on Select’s YouTube channel.
Implementing Paid Media Campaigns to Grow Engagement
The Chamber’s paid media strategy has evolved to focus on driving conversions of website visitors, featuring exciting new creative, and finding ways to reach audiences through Google paid searches, LinkedIn engagement, and programmatic advertising.
Targeted media campaigns drove more than 3.8 million impressions in the first six months of FY24 and are a significant driver of leads and prospects nurtured by the Economic Competitiveness team’s Business Attraction and Expansion arm.
Expanding Our Lead Generation and Conference Activity
During the first six months of FY24, the Chamber’s Business Attraction and Expansion team has worked 84 leads and prospects, which is a 50% year-over-year increase (FY23 concluded with a 200% jump in business attraction activity, and we are continuing to build on that momentum). Current projects represent the life sciences, industrial, professional services, tech, and other key sectors. Leads are obtained through local and international trade partners, companies and site selectors, Chamber lead generation, targeted media campaigns, and conferences and trade show participation.
In FY24, the team participated in the SelectUSA Canada Conference in Montreal (December 2023) and Phacilitate Advanced Therapies Week in Miami (January 2024). In the coming months, we will be speaking with life sciences leaders, innovators, and investors at:
- MD&M West 2024, a medical device trade show (February 6-8, Anaheim, CA)
- SXSW, an innovation conference (March 8-16, Austin, TX)
- HIMSS, a healthcare professionals conference (March 11-15, Orlando, FL)
- IAMC Spring Forum, an industrial real estate conference (April 6-10, Greenville, SC)
- ASGCT Annual Meeting, a cell and gene therapy conference (May 7-11, Baltimore, MD)
- BIO International Convention, a biotech conference (June 3-6, San Diego, CA)
- SelectUSA Investment Summit, a summit promoting foreign direct investment (June 23-26, National Harbor, MD)
In addition, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Office of International Business Development and SelectUSA, the Chamber presented a productive business attraction initiative targeting Montreal that resulted in nine businesses considering opening operations in Greater Philadelphia and six new membership leads from French-Canadian companies interested in our regional business ecosystem.
Join Us in Building Momentum
If you would like to connect with us about the Chamber’s ongoing business attraction and expansion efforts, learn more about participating in programs, such as Momentum Makers, collaborate on upcoming conferences, or discuss ways you or your organization can join in sharing Greater Philadelphia’s stories, please contact our team.
To refer a business interested in locating or expanding in Greater Philadelphia:
James Medaglio, Director, Business Attraction and Expansion
For conference and tradeshow collaboration:
Lindsey Hover, Manager of Business Attraction and Expansion
Momentum Makers and Discovery Starts with Me:
Elisa Procida, Regional Marketing Manager, Economic Competitiveness
Not a Chamber Member? Contact a membership advisor to learn more and join.
