WHEREAS, The Urban Industry Initiative (UII) has been providing proactive outreach and comprehensive business assistance to manufacturers in the lower Northeast and lower Northwest sections of the City over the past six years; and
WHEREAS, This area includes 425 manufacturing businesses, representing over 22,000 jobs; and
WHEREAS, The UII has focused on a wide range of business concerns, and has targeted specific neighborhoods through an aggressive calling program to deliver a broad set of business assistance resources, build connections among companies, and address the external issues (crime, trash, graffiti) that drive out businesses; and
WHEREAS, These pieces come together as a unified retention strategy that strengthens businesses and neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, In 2003, UII was incorporated into the Department of Commerce, which serves as a program partner; and
WHEREAS, This unique program is open only to manufacturers and focuses exclusively on sharing ideas, information and business opportunities among manufacturers;
now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development is hereby authorized to hold hearings to receive a programmatic update on the Urban Industry Initiative.
End