Note: This article is a paid placement and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Billy Penn at WHYY.
With all eyes on how we grow the regional economy and ensure equitable prosperity for all Philadelphians, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, in partnership with Boston Consulting Group, created the Inclusive Growth Dashboard.
It’s a tool designed to help city and regional policymakers, business and civic leaders, and the public understand economic conditions, discuss them with aligned data points, and pursue fact-based solutions.
In 2020, what became known as the Recharge & Recover PHL Task Force gathered to devise, present, and implement a unified strategy for recovery. The group included 160 civic and business leaders, in partnership with Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, Pa. Governor Tom Wolf, Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke, and representatives from the counties of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Led by the Chamber and its CEO Council for Growth, the task force created five aspirations for the region, suggesting it strive to become:
- A new national model to learn, apprentice, and work in the jobs of the future
- A place known for investing in and growing small, Black, brown, and locally-owned businesses
- A digital community with increased digital literacy, technology, and internet use
- The healthiest and most livable community in the Northeast
- A top global cell and gene therapy hub
These goals support economic recovery, and they provide a means to differentiate our region from peer metros like Atlanta, Boston, and Washington DC for decades to come.
With the knowledge this effort requires a data-informed strategy, the Chamber developed the Inclusive Growth Dashboard. With the dashboard, the Chamber and the CEO Council are establishing the tone — and a system of accountability with an objective set of measurements and definitions of success — for how the Greater Philadelphia region meets these big-picture goals.
The dashboard measures a set of key macroeconomic indicators:
- Job growth
- Small business growth
- Wage growth
- Poverty reduction
Take note: The data is dynamic, so bookmark it, check back often, and share it with your networks.
The dashboard is maintained in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Philadelphia research and policy initiative. It will be continually updated.
By taking this journey together, we’ll build a stronger and more equitable economy in Greater Philadelphia than ever before.
