The mission of the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone Economic Development Unit (EZ EDU) is to provide technical expertise to advance business development activities in the EZ and maximize the potential for job creation and community wealth. Specifically, the EDU coordinates among the City's economic development agencies, quasi-public organizations, and private organizations; establishes procedures for tracking and evaluating business development; and employs a one-stop, business friendly approach toward attraction, start-up, expansion, and retention activities. In addition, the EDU seeks to anticipate and influence dynamic factors in the EZ's economic development by formulating positions, policies, and new programs.

The following is a list of some of the functions that the EDU performs to facilitate economic development within the EZ:

Operations

The EDU helps coordinate the various public and non-profit services for EZ businesses in order to ensure the maximum viability of the businesses, develop comprehensive marketing programs, and serve as a liaison for business and community interests.

1. Taxes, Benefits, and Incentives: Function as the local lead contact for federal incentives in the Empowerment Zone legislation. Provide an initial contact point for municipal and state incentives for which EZ businesses may also be eligible. Also, help broker available financing whenever possible.

2. Public Resource Utilization: Facilitate communication and coordination among City Commerce, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation (PCDC), Mayor's Business Action Team (MBAT), Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation (PWDC), Redevelopment Authority (RDA) and other city-wide economic development agencies in regard to EZ activities in order to ensure both maximum service to EZ businesses and appropriate integration with other operations in the EZ.

3. Private/Public Partnership Liaison: Operate as a liaison between economic development agencies on one hand and the Community Trust Boards (CTB) and neighborhoods on the other hand. Work closely with the community lending institutions. Ensure that businesses and communities can have profitable and mutually beneficial relationships from the earliest stages of the project.

4. Technical Assistance: Provide technical assistance as needed and appropriate to businesses and neighborhood organizations. Strategic and/or operational assistance is available to ensure the productivity and profitability of EZ businesses.

5. Business Marketing: Market the opportunities, incentives, and real estate of the EZ in order to attract businesses from other areas who are considering relocation to or expansion in the EZ. Also, the EDU markets incentives within the EZ, to be sure that existing businesses understand and fully take advantage of all EZ programs for which they qualify.

Workforce Development

The EDU seeks to provide maximum job placement and development for EZ residents. This is accomplished in partnership with workforce development agencies that pair unemployed workers with business needs and provide retraining and other employment services.

1. JobBank: Create effective, durable mechanisms in both the short and long-term to serve and track job seekers throughout the EZ, with a particular focus on the long- term placement of EZ residents.

2. Customized Job Training: Connect businesses with various and unique hiring needs to relevant service agencies, particularly the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation (PWDC).

3. Welfare-to-Work Initiatives: Highlight the EZ in welfare-to-work strategies. Ensure that service providers, employment referral agencies, and private sector employers understand and utilize available employment credits.

Land Use

The EDU actively promotes economically productive and sustainable land use development in the EZ, consistent with the community's needs for a livable, sociable environment.

1. Real Estate Inventory: Identify and market available industrial and commercial parcels in the EZ. Seek to pair interested businesses with the most appropriate property available within the EZ.

2. Environmental: Advocate for brownfield remediation and environmentally conscientious development within the EZ. Monitor the assessment and compliance of environmentally suspect sites.

3. Acquisition, Demolition, and Disposition: Operate as advocates and help coordinate City departmental resources for the demolition and renewal of abandoned and deteriorated properties within the EZ in order to maximize the productive use of land resources.

4. Zoning and Permits: Coordinate with appropriate individuals and agencies to ensure the optimal use of land within the EZ, again consistent with the community interest in a habitable environment. Operate as a liaison between businesses concerned with zoning and neighborhoods concerned with the environment.

5. Neighborhood Transformation Initiative: Support planning and implementation of the Mayor's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI). Coordinate NTI and EZ EDU activities as necessary.

Strategic Economic Planning

1. Business Outreach: Conduct seminars and workshops, disseminate information and analysis, provide enhanced technical assistance, and convene focus groups, all for the purpose of inspiring synergy among local businesses in the EZ.

2. Community Wealth: Create community-based wealth opportunities through creatively structured and financed development, which could include worker-owned enterprises, ESOP's, community-based franchising, and/or an infusion of community controlled equity, among other options.

3. Special Projects: Take responsibility for and execute such unanticipated projects as may occasionally arise and require immediate or long-term prioritization.