CITY OF PHILADELPHIA ANNOUNCES SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS TAX CREDIT APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE

Philadelphia, February 1, 2013- The City of Philadelphia released the application for the Sustainable Business Tax Credit, created by legislation sponsored by Councilman James Kenney and passed by City Council in December 2009. Though the bill was passed in 2009, the ordinance’s language says that the tax credit will be available for tax years 2012 through 2017, and 25 eligible businesses will receive a tax credit of up to $4,000 against the gross receipts portion of the Business Income and Receipts Tax. Businesses may qualify by obtaining B Corporation certification or meeting a list of criteria set by City regulations. The Sustainable Business Tax Credit Pending Regulations and Sustainable Business Tax Credit Application are available on the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability website atwww.phila.gov/green.

 

Philadelphia was the first city in America to adopt a financial incentive for sustainable businesses. The credit formally acknowledges sustainable business practices in Philadelphia and encourages the growth of the local clean economy. Supporting the clean economy will help the City reach its sustainability goals outlined in Greenworks Philadelphia.

 

“The City of Philadelphia is pleased to offer an innovative incentive that promotes the local clean economy and creates an attractive and supportive environment for sustainable business practices,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “We value the work of sustainable businesses and hope this credit encourages the expansion of sustainable practices in Philadelphia.”

 

Since the bill passed in 2009, Pennsylvania and 11 other states have adopted laws supporting sustainable businesses and the B Corporation standard, and the number of certified B Corporations has grown from 240 to 688. For more information on B Corporations, visitwww.bcorporation.net.

PLANNING COMMISSION ANNOUNCES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY

Philadelphia, January 25, 2013 – As part of the ongoingPhiladelphia2035 comprehensive planning process, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC) is piloting a web-based computer game in an effort to engage with more Philadelphians about the projects and policies shaping the city. On January 28, the PCPC will launchPHL2035: The Game!, an interactive website that takes players through questions and scenarios regarding the University/Southwest Planning District, an area which includes the neighborhoods of Kingsessing, Cedar Park, Walnut Hill, Spruce Hill, Powelton Village, Saunders Park, West Powelton, West Shore, and University City.

 

The game takes the planning process online.  It informs individuals of current trends in the city’s development, while asking them to think about future improvements, weighing in on proposed projects and making choices about local priorities. Players can use pre-loaded maps, charts and other materials as clues to answer factual questions. There are also opportunities for open-ended comment and discussion about issues ranging from zoning changes and bike lanes to housing policy.

 

“My Administration is committed to planning for Philadelphia’s future with the input of its citizens. PHL2035: The Game! allows the City to use technology to directly engage residents on the issues that matter in their individual community,” Mayor Michael A. Nutter said.

 

Players earn video coins for correct answers, which can then be used as votes in support of local causes such as cleanups or tree plantings. The three most popular causes will receive $500 donations at the game’s conclusion with the money being supplied by an award from the Knight Foundation. The prizes are a way to connect the longer-term focus of the game to incremental progress happening now.

 

Planners hope that the game will attract participants who are often unable to attend community meetings, including seniors, school-age children, and those whose work schedules conflict with evening events. The goal is to attract more than 1,000 individuals during the game’s three-week run, which ends February 18.

 

“We are always looking for ways to engage in meaningful discussions with the public to produce plans that balance local interests with economic realities,” said Gary Jastrzab, Executive Director of the PCPC. “PHL2035: The Game! is an opportunity to foster an in-depth discussion not only between our staff and the public, but between Philadelphians from different neighborhoods and backgrounds. We expect to share and generate a lot of valuable data, and achieve a better understanding of neighborhood priorities in the process.”

 

PHL2035: The Game! is a local application of an existing online platform called Community PlanIt, which has been deployed to enrich planning processes in Massachusetts and Michigan to date.  Community PlanIt is a project of the Engagement Game Lab and is funded by the Knight Foundation. The Philadelphia game is a partnership between the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and the Engagement Game Lab.

The partnership came about through Philadelphia’s recently-formed Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, whose co-directors made the introduction between the game developers and the PCPC. “We’re looking forward to seeing the game in action in a city as diverse and dynamic as Philadelphia,” says Dr. Eric Gordon, director of Engagement Game Lab.  “This is a new way to participate in civic life and long-term planning, and we think it is a great addition to their other outreach efforts.”

 

The game is another piece in an array of education and outreach efforts undertaken by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission in recent years, including the Citizens Planning Institute; an agency blog;Facebook and Twitter accounts; and a text-message-based feedback tool called Textizen, which will be making a return in conjunction with PHL2035: The Game!

 

PHL2035: The Game! will be available until February 18 from any computer or smart phone, including KEYSPOTs, the city’s network of free public computing centers. To sign up for the game and learn more, visit www.phila2035.org andhttp://www.communityplanit.org/PHL2035/.

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, RECYCLEBANK WIN OUTSTANDING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AWARD

Philadelphia, January 22, 2013– The City of Philadelphia and Recyclebank were selected for the Outstanding Award in Public/Private Partnerships by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). The award honors the partnership’s success in building a more sustainable city by increasing recycling participation among community members and diverting more waste from landfills.

 

“As Philadelphia strives to be the greenest city in America, we are focused on forging partnerships that help us reach our sustainability goals, increase community engagement and stimulate the local economy,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “In working with us to create Philadelphia Recycling Rewards, Recyclebank has been a strong partner and has helped Philadelphia to reach new heights of urban sustainability and national environmental leadership.”

 

The award was presented Saturday, January 19 at the USCM 81^stWinter Meeting. The Excellence in Public/Private Partnership Awards were established by the USCM to recognize the achievements made possible by the partnerships between the member companies of the Mayors Business Council and cities across the nation. Mayor Nutter and Erika Diamond, vice president of community solutions at Recyclebank, accepted the award.

 

“Philadelphia’s strides in building a more sustainable and smarter city is testament to the impact that partnerships between public entities and private corporations can create,” said Diamond. “By rewarding residents for taking more everyday green actions like recycling, Philadelphia has increased recycling rates in the face of stagnant national average rates and helped residents realize the financial benefits of making more sustainable choices.”

 

In summer 2008, the City of Philadelphia made a commitment to sustainability by expanding its recycling program, switching to a single-stream recycling system. In February 2010, the City furthered its commitment by partnering with Recyclebank and offering more than 540,000 household residents the opportunity to get rewards for recycling at home with the program, Philadelphia Recycling Rewards. In addition to rewards for recycling, the partnership has raised awareness and education for recycling, both critical components to recycling behavior change. Because of these combined efforts, the City has increased the total amount of residential recycling collected by nearly 20,000 tons and its curbside recycling diversion rate is up four percentage points since the Recycling Rewards Program was implemented Citywide in July 2010.

 

“The Philadelphia Streets Department is very proud to be the co-recipient of the Outstanding Award in Public/Private Partnerships with our partner Recyclebank,” said Streets Commissioner Clarena Tolson. “The award signifies how far Philadelphia has come in its recycling efforts and supporting Mayor Nutter’s vision for Philadelphia to be the most viable and environmentally conscious city in the country,” Tolson said. “Philadelphia Recycling Rewards allows us to give back to residents who have made recycling a priority in their community. This program not only makes the City greener by increasing recycling rates and saving the City from costly landfill fees; it puts more green in the pockets of local residents by giving them points redeemable at local businesses.”

 

Philadelphia Recycling Rewards, powered by Recyclebank, rewards residents for recycling with discounts and deals from locally-based businesses and national brands. For more information on the program, please visit www.phillyrecyclingpays.com.

 

ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA STREETS DEPARTMENT

For more information about the Philadelphia Streets Department, visit:http://www.philadelphiastreets.com.

 

ABOUT RECYCLEBANK

Recyclebank helps create a more sustainable future by rewarding people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from more than 4,000 local businesses and national brands. Through its online platform and partnerships with municipalities, haulers, small businesses and corporate brands, Recyclebank empowers individuals to make a collective impact on the environment by increasing household recycling and taking other environmentally-friendly actions. A Certified B Corporation, Recyclebank has been recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Program and for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Recyclebank is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.Recyclebank.com.

MAYOR NUTTER, STREETS DEPARTMENT LAUNCH PHILLY FUTURE TRACK PROGRAM

Philadelphia, January 14, 2013– Mayor Michael A. Nutter and the Philadelphia Streets Department announced the launch of a new program called “Philly Future Track,” which will provide job-skills training and real-world work experience to 130 young adults in Philadelphia. Using service as a strategy to build civic and environmental stewardship, Philly Future Track will provide individuals with a paid position involving community service and other life and career building skills during a six-month period.

 

“Philadelphia, like many big cities, faces the challenges of unemployment and city cleanliness, which both have significant impact on the City as a whole,” said Mayor Nutter. “Philly Future Track is a smart strategy to address these challenges by investing in the development and job readiness of Philadelphia’s young adult population. Participants will gain valuable skills to prepare them for future employment while they engage in public service beautifying Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.”

 

This program will provide a temporary employment opportunity to participants who will assist with cleaning and beautification projects in key areas throughout Philadelphia. The program is designed to be a career readiness pipeline, providing the participants with enough resources and education to transition into full time employment, attend a 2 or 4 year higher education institution, enter into a vocational training program/school or be prepared to take the military aptitude test.

 

The participants were not previously enrolled in higher education and were unemployed. For three days a week over the course of six months, participants will work in teams on neighborhood beautification projects with direction from the Streets Department. The remaining two days are spent in the classroom, where participants will learn job readiness skills.

 

“Philly Future Track is designed to create stronger citizens who live, work and serve in their communities,” said Streets Commissioner Clarena I.W. Tolson. “By instilling self-sustainability and civic pride in Philadelphia’s young adults, they will be better prepared to take the next steps towards developing long-term careers, and in turn, improve the City as a whole.”

 

Philly Future Track is made possible by the partnerships of several city and community organizations. The City of Philadelphia, Department of Streets, Mayor’s Office of Community Services (MOCS), Philadelphia Organized to Witness Empower & Rebuild (POWER), Community Women’s Education Project (CWEP) and Community Marketing Concepts are all investing in the futures of both Philadelphia’s young adult population and the City of Philadelphia as a whole.

 

The Philly Future Track program is still seeking participants. If interested, please visit http://www.philadelphiastreets.com/future-track.aspx for more information and to learn how to apply.

 

For more information on the Department of Streets, please visithttp://www.philadelphiastreets.com/.   For more information on MOCS, please visit http://www.phila.gov/mocs/.  For more information on POWER, please visit http://www.powerphiladelphia.org/.  For more information on CWEP, please visit www.cwep.org/. For more information on Community Marketing Concepts, please visitwww.communitymarketingconcepts.com.

Philadelphia Named America’s Most Bikable Large City

Philadelphia, December 21, 2012 – The website www.walkscore.com, in collaboration with researchers at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia, announced this week that Philadelphia ranks as the ninth most bikeable city United States and the best city for biking with a population more than one million. The rankings are based on four factors: bike lanes; hills; destinations and road connectivity; and bike commuting mode share.

 

“I am pleased to see Philadelphia recognized as among the nation’s most bikable cities,” said Michael A. Nutter.  “The work of the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities to coordinate agencies across City government has led to major strides in making biking a safe and convenient option for traveling around Philadelphia,” Nutter continued.

 

More than two percent of Philadelphians bike to work according to the 2011 Census Bureau’s American Communities Survey, this is a full percentage point higher than the next American City with a population more than one million; Chicago.  The Census Bureau data also ranks Center City Philadelphia and South Philadelphia as among the top twenty five biking neighborhoods in the United States.

 

In the past five years the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities and Streets Department efforts have significantly expanded bike infrastructure in high demand and key employment areas including Center City, University City and around Temple University. In 2010, the City was awarded a $17.2 million US Department of Transportation TIGER Grant to fill critical gaps in the regions biking and walking trail network. By the end of 2013, nearly five and half miles will be added to the trail network knitting together a more that 50 mile network of cycling and walking trails, with a focus on the ability of the trails to be used for transportation.  By the end of 2014, the City expects to complete another five trail projects creating more than ten miles of new trail that leverage the existing network.

“We have been working hard for five years to make Philadelphia easier to get around, however you travel. The latest survey shows that our efforts are working. Perhaps most importantly, our streets and trails have never been safer for cycling, with bike commuting up by 150 percent since the year 2000 and the number of accidents involving cyclists down 50 percent,” said Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities Rina Cutler.

ship in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, and it was a pilot site for a city-wide effort to employ more women and minority contractors in public projects.  Site-specific artwork was commissioned for inclusion in the PJJSC as part of the City’s ‘Percent for Art’ program.  Two Philadelphia-based painters were chosen to decorate the lobby, the community room and the second-floor waiting area.  A documentary by Greenhouse Media featuring the artists’ creative process will be displayed in the building.

 

 

More than 15 City departments, agencies and programs are affiliated with the PJJSC, and major tenants of the facility will include the Department of Human Services, the Juvenile Justice Division, Family Court, the School District of Philadelphia, the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender Association, and the Department of Public Property Facilities Division.

MAYOR NUTTER SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER; CREATES THE PHILADELPHIA FOOD ACCESS COLLABORATIVE

Philadelphia, December 18, 2012–  Mayor Michael A. Nutter signed an Executive Order creating the Philadelphia Food Access Collaborative, the coordinating body that will address the recommendations of the Mayor’s Task Force on Outdoor Serving of Food to improve access to free meals for individuals in need.  The Philadelphia Food Access Collaborative will convene appointed community leaders, meal providers, volunteers, City officials and residents who use community food services to increase access to healthy, safe food and vital social services in an indoor setting.

 

“No Philadelphian should go hungry when resources and dedicated volunteers who are willing and able to help are present,” said Mayor Nutter.  “The health, safety and dignity of individuals who utilize emergency food services has to be the key consideration as we work together to increase access to meals and services.  I look forward to the great work that the Philadelphia Food Access Collaboration will do for our most vulnerable citizens.”

 

The initial goals of the Collaborative are:

 

• Increase the availability of meals at existing indoor meal service sites– Inventory existing indoor meal service organizations and assess their needs in order to increase the number of indoor meal options;
• Coordinate meal schedules to eliminate gaps in service – Support the coordination of meal schedules for both indoor and outdoor servers to ensure there is adequate coverage throughout the week for individuals seeking food, and make this information widely available;
• Identify opportunities for new space for meal service – Look for potential new space where outdoor servers can provide meals in a safe and healthy environment with indoor and outdoor space available to those being served food;
• Connect individuals to meals and other social service resources – Work to ensure that information on resources for meals and key social services are provided at meal service sites;
• Raise the visibility of these issues – Release an annual report on the work of the Collaborative towards advancing these goals, and the overall state of emergency food in Philadelphia; and
• Fundraise in support of these efforts – Identify additional resources to advance the work of this group.

 

“The Food Access Collaborative is positioned to be a game-changer in Philadelphia’s ongoing quest to alleviate the trauma experienced through hunger.  By assembling proven leadership from diverse sectors and gathering a range of expertise, the Collaborative is positioned to drive our city toward new solutions to this vexing problem. This is a roll-up-your sleeves kind of group and I am proud to be a part of it,” said Bill Golderer, Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Food Access Collaborative.

 

Philadelphia Food Access Collaborative Members

 

Kevin Barr

Executive Director, St. John’s Hospice

John Barrett

Vice President, Logan Square Neighborhood Association

Adam Bruckner

Director, Philadelphia Restart

Bill Clark

President and Executive Director, Philabundance

Andre Cureton

Daytime Program Supervisor, Bethesda Project, Former Outdoor Food Consumer

Kim Fortunato, Esq.

      Director, Childhood Obesity and Hunger Program, Campbell Soup Company

Brian Jenkins

Executive Director, Chosen 300

Samantha Matlin

Special Advisor to the Commissioner for Policy Development and Research,Department of Behavioral

Health and Intellectual disAbility Services

Dick McMillen

Executive Director, Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission

Carey Morgan

Executive Director, Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger

Joe Pyle

Executive Director, Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation

Joseph Rogers

Chief Advocacy Officer, Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Former Outdoor Food Consumer

Nilda Ruiz

President and CEO, Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha

Jay Spector

President and CEO, Jewish Employment and Vocational Services

Salomon Vazquez

Outdoor Food Provider, The Connect Church

 

Collaborative Co-Chairs

 

Bill Golderer, Convening Minister, Broad Street Ministry, Pastor, Arch Street Presbyterian Church

Mary Horstmann, Deputy Director, Policy Planning and Coordination, Mayor’s Office

 

The Collaborative will be adding additional members to ensure broad representation from key constituencies on this issue.

Mayor Nutter to Lead Trade Mission to China, Promote Investment in Philadelphia

Trip to focus on sustainability, arts/culture, health care, education & economic development

November 26, 2012 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter will visit China this week to promote opportunities for investment in Philadelphia, strengthen relationships between key Philadelphia institutions and their Chinese counterparts, and continue to promote Philadelphia as a growing international city.  He will also take part in a two-day conference on urban sustainability – Cities of the Future – organized by the Paulson Institute, chaired by former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson. Mayor Nutter was invited to participate in the conference in his role as one of America’s leading sustainability mayors and President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors by Secretary Paulson.

“China presents huge investment and export opportunities for Philadelphia and I intend to be very aggressive in promoting our city and attracting new investment, all of which ultimately leads to more job opportunities for Philadelphians,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter.  “My message for this trip is that Philadelphia – increasingly recognized as an international leader on sustainability, healthcare, education and the creative economy – is ripe for investment and open for business.”

Mayor Nutter will begin his official visit with a two-day visit to Tianjin, a Chinese hub for clean energy technology and a Sister City of Philadelphia since 1980.  During the visit, Mayor Nutter will meet with Tianjin Mayor Huang Xingguo to sign a new agreement of cooperation and partnership between the two cities.  He will also visit the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area Eco-Center, a nationally-directed economic development zone focused on technological innovation and commercialization of low-carbon products and services.

From Tianjin, Mayor Nutter and the Philadelphia delegation will travel to Beijing for the Paulson Institute’s Cities of the Future conference on issues of urban sustainability and the growth of cities.  During the conference Mayor Nutter will participate in a discussion with Acting Mayor of Beijing Wang Anshun around mayors as drivers of change on sustainability and will share some of the successes and challenges experienced by Philadelphia during the implementation of Greenworks Philadelphia.

While in Beijing, Mayor Nutter and Philadelphia International Airport CEO Mark Gale will also meet with senior executives from Air China to continue discussions around potential opportunities for a direct non-stop service between China and Philadelphia.  Philadelphia is currently the largest metropolitan area in the United States without nonstop service to Asia.  Increasing nonstop flights to international destinations is a key priority for Philadelphia’s future growth and attractiveness to foreign investment.  Mayor Nutter was also invited by U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke to address the Ambassador’s Investment Forum where the Mayor will promote Philadelphia and highlight opportunities for investment in the region.

Joining Mayor Nutter on the visit to China will be representatives of leading Philadelphia institutions who will be using the opportunity provided by the Mayor’s visit to deepen their relationships with partners in China and announce new partnership opportunities to promote Philadelphia in this growing market.  Participants in this trade mission include the Philadelphia Orchestra, Drexel University, Fox Chase Cancer Center, the law firm of White and Williams, and the China Partnership of Greater Philadelphia, each of which has developed relationships with institutions in Philadelphia’s Sister City.  Mayor Nutter will also be joined from the City of Philadelphia by First Deputy Chief of Staff Suzanne Biemiller, Senior Deputy Director of Commerce Duane Bumb (who will arrive in advance of the delegation to address a pharmaceutical investors conference in Beijing), Philadelphia International Airport CEO Mark Gale, and President and CEO of the International Visitors Council of Philadelphia Nancy Gilboy, who administers the City’s Sister City Program.  The delegation will return to Philadelphia Thursday December 6, 2012.

Mayor Nutter announced in a February speech to the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce that he intended to be aggressive in attracting international investment and promoting Philadelphia on the global stage.  The mission to China is the first in what is expected to be a number of international trade missions to expand export opportunities for Philadelphia organizations and attract new investment to the city.