West Philadelphia Promise Zone Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO) Population Size: West Philadelphia Promise Zone Mission 35,315 With the Promise Zone designation, partners will align efforts in West Philadelphia to lift individuals and communities out of poverty and increase Lead Organization: opportunities for low income individuals and families. Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment About West Philadelphia and Opportunity (CEO) Although home to a vibrant culture, strong anchor institutions, good Implementation transportation resources and other economic drivers, the Philadelphia Promise Zone has struggled with a 51% poverty rate, high housing vacancy rates, serious Partners: crime, and low education levels that make residents uncompetitive in today’s Drexel University Mt. economy. The area received a CHOICE planning grant in 2011 and a Byrne Vernon Manor Criminal Justice Innovation Grant in 2012. The West Philadelphia Promise Zone is roughly two square miles – bound by the Schuylkill River to the east, Philadelphia LISC People’s Girard Avenue to the north, 48th Street to the west, and Sansom Street to the Emergency Center CDC south. School District of Philadelphia Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Philadelphia Police Department Philadelphia Department of Commerce Philadelphia Housing Authority Philadelphia Department of Public Health Photo Credits: Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity, Philadelphia LISC, Hole in the Clouds Promise Zone Leadership West Philadelphia Promise Zone Promise Zone Goals Create Jobs Leverage Private Resources The Philadelphia Promise Zone will provide The Promise Zone will coordinate existing area residents with job skills and links to investments and attract new resources. An employment. Additionally, it will encourage estimated $575 million in committed the growth of small businesses by increasing investments and $250 million in anticipated incentives to locate in the zone for new investments will spur economic small businesses, private companies, and development. The area’s location near institutions. Philadelphia’s largest economic hubs and centers of employment will be leveraged to Increase Economic Activity attract market-driven investment and create The Promise Zone will attract and retain job opportunities for residents. businesses on neighborhood commercial corridors. At least five interventions will be Reduce Violent Crime used to spur corridor vitality and build on The Promise Zone will build on past business development strategies created successes through continued focused, through a number of recent neighborhood community-oriented policing strategies initiatives. Economic activity will increase combined with efforts to improve through continued public and private neighborhood conditions by removing blight investments, financing initiatives, and and maintaining vacant lots. improved security for small businesses. Additional Community Goals Improve Educational Opportunities In line with Shared Prosperity Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Promise Zone will expand our plan to fight poverty, the City will work educational opportunities for children and collaboratively with other partners to reduce adults by increasing access to high quality poverty’s effects by increasing access to key pre-K programs. This will help ensure that anti-poverty resources and supports. Other children enter school prepared to learn, key outcomes include increasing housing improve their academic skills, and graduate options, promoting healthier eating and prepared for college and careers. lifestyles, and engaging residents to inform and advance the plan’s goals. goals. Eva Gladstein Exec. Director, Mayor's Office of Community Empowerment & Opportunity 1234 Market Street, 16th floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 685-3600 [email protected] www.sharedprosperityphila.org .