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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMFebruary 5, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
February 5, 2007
CONTACT: SOLOMON JONES
(215) 829-1620/ (215) 370.5681
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a roundtable discussion with small business leaders, Mayoral Candidate Chaka Fattah today released his plan for expanding the city's existing small business opportunities and drawing new business to Philadelphia.
"Retaining and growing Philadelphia's small businesses will be a centerpiece of my administration's economic development agenda," said Fattah.
Fattah wants to give small businesses the tools they needs to succeed. This includes creating an emergency loan fund for small businesses in crisis, providing tax relief for small businesses facing the disruption of their business due to city improvement projects, growing the urban industry initiative, and creating an independent non-profit to give neighborhood businesses free consulting advice.
"When SEPTA starts one of the largest construction projects in their history -- in the hopes of improving service to commuters on the Market Street El -- over a dozen local businesses should not be forced to close down," said Fattah. "In my administration, we will look to give tax relief to those businesses hurt by ongoing capital improvements in Philadelphia. Neighborhood businesses are at the heart of a successful city."
Fattah also takes a true regional approach to small business development in Philadelphia. His plan calls for creating an organization to attract and retain small businesses in the Philadelphia region, exploring opportunities for regional collaboration in procurement, and heavily expanding the reverse commuting program currently run by the Philadelphia Unemployment Project.
"Instead of competing for small businesses against our suburban neighbors, we should be collaborating with them to attract small business to our region," said Fattah. "By working with each other, our region will be a stronger and more attractive place to start and grow a business."
For more information on the Fattah plan to promote small business, please visit our website at http://www.phillyforfattah.com/policy_center.asp