Key Staff:
Stephanie Naidoff, City Representative and Director of Commerce
Mjenzi K. Traylor, First Deputy Director of Commerce
Duane H. Bumb, Deputy Director of Commerce
Bonnie Grant, Deputy City Representative, Office of Ceremonial and Special Events
Carol Lawrence, Deputy City Representative, Office of Arts and Culture
Vincent Dougherty, Acting Director, Mayor's Business Action Team

General Services:
The Department of Commerce is responsible for the coordination of the City of Philadelphia's economic development efforts. The Department implements the Mayor's initiatives for business development and job growth. As part of its coordination efforts, the Commerce Department works closely with several related agencies, including PIDC, PCDC, RDA and the Mayor's Business Action Team (MBAT). Among other duties the Commerce Department administers federal and state business incentive programs, provides loans and other incentives to businesses located in the City, provides site selection and land acquisition services to companies interested in locating or expanding in Philadelphia, and provides export assistance to businesses exploring international markets.

Overview:
The Department of Commerce is the umbrella organization for all economic development activity in the City. Its goal is to stimulate, promote and coordinate economic improvements in all areas and to transform Philadelphia into a thriving economic engine. To meet this goal, the Department sets and implements the City's economic development strategy and manages the City's business attraction and retention efforts. In partnership with delegate agencies such as the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), the Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation (PCDC), and the Redevelopment Authority (RDA), the Department leads efforts to develop business-friendly strategies to help both small businesses and major corporations in Philadelphia thrive.

The Mayor's Business Action Team (MBAT), a division of the Commerce Department, provides Philadelphia businesses with a source of reliable and comprehensive business assistance. MBAT is the primary point of contact between the Department of Commerce and the business community. MBAT business account executives are familiar with a wide range of business-related information such as start-up requirements, licensing and permit issues. MBAT also brings together city departments and agencies to resolve business concerns and ensure full delivery of city services.

In addition to inter-agency collaboration efforts, the Department administers
several assistance programs in-house. These include: Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZs) - Companies that locate in any of the State designated KOZs are exempt from all or most State and local business, real estate, and use and occupancy taxes. These tax abatements are conditional on firms increasing full-time jobs in the first year of operations or making capital investments in property within the zone. http://www.philakoz.org/

Empowerment Zones/Renewal Communities - These federal programs provide Philadelphia with resources to assist qualified businesses in certain designated areas with low-interest financing, federal wage tax credits, and tax-exempt facility bonds. http://www.empowermentzone.org

Brownfields Program - The Brownfields Coordinator works with local economic development organizations and private developers to assist in the redevelopment of land with potential environmental liability.

Commercial Faade Improvement Program - This program extends grants to
businesses in designated areas to restore storefronts in neighborhood shopping areas. Security Assistance Program - The Security Assistance Program provides a matching rebate to businesses for approved security improvements.

Other programs and services include:
Neighborhood Economic Development Unit - Promotes economic development, encourages entrepreneurship and provides technical assistance and financing to small businesses.

International Office - Oversees diplomatic and consul affairs and engages the business community in international trade activity.

International Visitors Council (IVC) - IVC is a non-profit agency that works in partnership with the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of State. IVC administers the State Department's leadership exchange programs and arranges meetings for hundreds of inbound delegations each year. http://www.ivc.org/

Sister Cities Program - This program officially links Philadelphia with ten cities in nine countries for educational, cultural and business exchanges. http://www.ivc.org/