State of the City 2021 Virtual Event: Small Businesses, Jobs, and Philadelphia's Road to an Inclusive Recovery

With vaccinations increasing and significant federal relief forthcoming, the time is ripe to look toward Philadelphia’s future, with a focus on achieving an inclusive economic recovery. How can the city support the creation of new businesses and family-sustaining jobs so that economic growth benefits all Philadelphians and builds community wealth?  

Ensuring that the path forward addresses long-term challenges, including racial inequity, requires a clear view of the city’s current state and recent past. With an eye toward that, The Pew Charitable Trusts, in partnership with The Philadelphia Inquirer, will present a livestream event on April 30 offering a look back, plus data and discussions to help plan ahead.

First, Pew experts will contextualize the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on Philadelphia’s trajectory by sharing findings from Pew’s 2021 “State of the City” report, as well as analysis of new data on the state of the city’s small-to-midsize businesses and middle-wage jobs.

Then, reporters from The Philadelphia Inquirer will lead two panel discussions with local policymakers and economic development experts to explore what inclusive recovery would look like through two lenses: businesses and jobs, with a particular focus on city policies to support growth.

View the agenda here.