Workforce

New report finds expanded Medicaid would support tens of thousands of new jobs, generate billions in economic activity and result in a net positive impact on the state budget between 2016 and 2022.

We went to Toronto to get at the forces behind its evolution from important Canadian city to top-ranking international capital. We knew it wasn't the weather. So we invited more than 40 of Toronto's leaders to tell the story, and asked them to focus on immigration and workforce, waterfront development, creating community through the arts, innovation and entrepreneurship, growth and mobility, Toronto's image, and governance and the Canadian citizen. Read about the big themes and takeaways from this learning visit in Insight Vol. 6. ...more

A world class region invests in the present with an eye toward the future. World Class Greater Philadelphia asks what the region's business, nonprofit, and government leaders need to focus on to ensure that we're ready for both the opportunities and the challenges that the future will bring. It's the civic version of what the world's smartest organizations do everyday: imagining potential futures and preparing to come out on top no matter what forces and events occur.

Over the past year, the Economy League and its partners have convened cross-sector teams to develop frameworks for our region in three key areas: Education and Talent Development, Business Growth, and Infrastructure. We'll reveal the Business Growth and Education & Talent Development strategies and announce exciting new initiatives. ...more

In Greater Philadelphia, how many are working in startups? and what are they doing? Even if you're one of them, it can be hard to know what's happening outside your immediate sphere of employees/ers, vendors, freelancers, lenders, and others supporting your business. Philly Startup Leaders' new map illustrates who is part of this economy and, as important, where the gaps are.
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$200,000 will support kindergarten readiness and advance World Class Greater Philadelphia education & talent strategy
The Roadmaps to Health Community Grant, one of 18 awarded in the US, will support a two-year action plan to identify shared standards for early childhood education quality and kindergarten readiness assessments in Pennsylvania. The Economy League and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey are joined by the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children, William Penn Foundation, and PNC. ...more

Collaboration with United Way will direct funds to regional education and talent development effort
The Economy League of Greater Philadelphia and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey are pleased to announce that funds from this weekend's "Made in America" music festival in Philadelphia will be invested in the creation of a regional education and talent strategy as part of World Class Greater Philadelphia, the Economy League's multi-year initiative to ensure that this region competes globally by 2026.  ...more

As part of its efforts to increase public safety, reduce recidivism, and decrease public spending on criminal justice functions, the City of Philadelphia has joined a growing number of local and state governments focused on connecting formerly incarcerated individuals with employment. The rationale - backed by an emerging research literature - is that former inmates are less likely to commit crimes causing them to return to prison if they become gainfully employed. In addition to the social benefits to be derived from reduced crime, there are significant positive economic impacts associated with employing the formerly incarcerated, including increased earnings for former inmates, increased tax revenues from employment, and avoided costs in the form of spending on criminal justice agencies.  ...more

Photos from the future??? Although that technology might be available in 2026, these snaps are from the World Class Greater Philadelphia Future Histories release on April 28 at WHYY's Hamilton Media Commons. If you missed it, stay tuned for an encore presentation in mid-June. ...more