Mayor outlines plan to keep commercial corridors clean

Philadelphia officials are getting down to business.

On Friday, July 12, local officials shared plans to significantly expand the Taking Care of Business (TCB) program. These plans come following Mayor Cherelle Parker‘s One Philly budget, which includes a significantly increased investment—more than double—in TCB. The Taking Care of Business program hosted an expo recently, which featured a variety of opportunities for local organizations and community leaders.

Led by the Department of Commerce, the TCB expo featured informative sessions for various cleaning companies and organizations citywide to learn how to participate in the program moving forward. The expo also included an open house for community leaders to learn about resources and programs available to assist in maintaining clean neighborhoods across Philadelphia.

TCB is an essential component of Parker’s Cleaning and Greening agenda, which aims to create a cleaner Philadelphia and a renewed sense of pride and safety for business owners and shoppers.

“I’m proud of the community engagement efforts at the PHL Taking Care of Business Expansion Expo today with our tremendous Department of Commerce and so many community leaders and organizations,” Parker said. “PHL TCB is a program that has worked well ever since I created it when I served in City Council and expanding it to serve more neighborhoods is a core part of my One Philly budget that is now law. We will keep expanding this dynamic program, cleaning more commercial corridors, and creating economic opportunities for more Philadelphians.”

In this latest expansion, the TCB program is set to hire an additional 200 Philadelphia residents, increase the number of commercial corridors it serves from 129 to 160, clean an additional 500 vacant lots, and increase tree planting and maintenance efforts on commercial corridors. The TCB program will partner with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, multiple neighborhood-based nonprofits, and cleaning companies to accomplish this.

“We are dedicated to reducing waste, increasing recycling, expanding tree care, and working towards a more sustainable future for all Philadelphians,” said Denis Murphy, Deputy Commerce Director, PHL TCB. “We are making meaningful steps in our collaborative efforts to advance Clean and Green efforts in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. When we add new areas to the PHL Taking Care of Business program, we will request proposals and schedule a program briefing.”

For more information about the PHL TCB program accomplishments, visit phila.gov