A message from the Chamber’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Chellie Cameron, to our regional business community as we work together to achieve our Chamber 2028 vision.
Dear Chamber Community,
Four years ago, I promised that this Chamber would not just talk about growth and opportunity. It would create them.
We had plenty to work with. A 225-year history. A region full of assets. A business community ready to lead.
Here are four big things we've accomplished together since then:
1. Built a stronger Chamber
None of our work happens without a strong foundation. We launched a five-year strategic plan with a clear guiding vision: Greater Philadelphia is a top global destination for business and a leader in inclusive growth. We overhauled our governance structure, updating our bylaws to ensure our Board and Executive Committee accurately reflect our membership and business community. We implemented new systems, including comprehensive CRM and financial platforms. We've seen our membership and revenue grow, proof that our business community sees our momentum and wants to be a part of it.
2. Amplified our region's story and success
Greater Philadelphia has a story worth telling, and we made sure more people heard it. We've increased our media coverage and impressions of the Chamber and our regional assets.
Through the Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia, in partnership with the Philadelphia Foundation and Points of Light, we recognized companies making real investments in our communities. In 2024 alone, honorees contributed $293 million and 1.2 million volunteer hours focused on education, workforce development, and health. That's something to celebrate.
We also launched the Stay for Philly campaign, developed in partnership with Visit Philadelphia and building on their renowned visitor attraction campaign. The initiative takes a fresh approach: turning tourists into transplants by highlighting Greater Philadelphia's key industries and quality-of-life amenities. Because the best advertisement for our region is the life people build here.
And, this fall, we're preparing to unveil a new brand for the Chamber to honor our history and match the direction we're moving in. Stay tuned and register for our Annual Meeting.
3. Advocated for policies that create a competitive business climate and increase upward economic mobility
When our members needed a voice in Philadelphia City Hall, Harrisburg, and Capitol Hill, we showed up. In City Hall, we advanced fair chance hiring policies for workers who've had fewer entry points and continued reductions in business and wages taxes. In Harrisburg, we expanded access to childcare for workers and their families in Pennsylvania, increased basic education funding, built a more competitive tax environment for businesses, and established a fund to strengthen the life sciences and biotech sectors. On the federal level, we led a coalition of national partners to defend NIH research funding, retained the state's two hydrogen hubs, and educated congressional offices on industry-informed workforce development and quality jobs. Challenges remain, and we will keep pushing.
4. Grew our business community while supporting opportunities for small and diverse businesses to succeed
We welcomed major business attraction wins, Bonduelle, DrinkPAK, and GSK among others, and made sure the global business community knew Greater Philadelphia was open, competitive, and worth the investment.
In May, we stood up the Greater Philadelphia Growth Partnership, a new regional economic development entity bringing together leaders across all five Southeastern counties to address sluggish job growth and declining economic mobility. With governance formed, funding secured, and county alignment achieved, this was an unprecedented accomplishment for our Chamber.
We launched the Greater Philadelphia Talent Network to connect employers with colleges, universities, and workforce development organizations across the region. Through our fair chance hiring cohort, developed in partnership with Philadelphia Works, Envoy, JPMorganChase, and the National Reentry Workforce Collaborative, we helped employers build stronger pipelines while opening doors for workers who've had fewer entry points.
We also deepened our support for the middle market companies that generate $253 billion in annual revenue and employ nearly a third of our region's workforce.
This work shows that the tent is getting bigger, our foundation is stronger, our partnerships are deeper, and our agenda is clear. Our advocacy is delivering results. Our business community is growing and thriving. We will keep building on this momentum, tackling hard challenges and ensuring the growth we create reaches every corner of the region.
I am proud of what we have built together, and I look forward to everything that comes next.
In Service,
Chellie
