PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Mayor Cherelle Parker spiced up her annual address to the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday by signing an executive order on the spot that she said would make it easier to do business in the city.
Parker called the new program PHL PRIME — short for Project Review and Infrastructure Made Easy — in response, she said, to pleas that she heard from businesses to ease the cumbersome process of starting or expanding an enterprise in Philadelphia.
According to the order, the PRIME team will “swiftly resolve any challenges that arise” during the process of securing permits, licenses and whatever city approvals a business may need. The mayor said it will also be a source of “predictable, consistent” information.
Not every business will qualify. The order said it would favor economic development that provided living wages with benefits, generated tax revenue, catalyzed transformative investment and advanced the mayor’s goals for a clean, safe city with equitable economic development. For those businesses, though, she promises prompt service.
“We’re going to make your doing business our number one priority,” said Parker. “We're not going to burden businesses with the time tax. We’re going to move at the speed of business.”
The mayor started a similar program for small business startups a couple of years ago. She said she hopes this one will attract major employers. Chamber leaders have given the plan their support.
“That’s what people want,” Parker said. “They want to see government working, not stalling work, so I’m really excited about this.”