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Office of Economic Opportunity

Supporting minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses.

Office of Economic Opportunity

What we do

The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) in the Department of Commerce ensures that the City is working with diverse businesses to fulfill its needs for goods and services. Each year, the City aims to reach 35 percent participation from minority, women, and disabled-owned enterprises (M/W/DSBEs) on its contracts.

OEO does this through:

  • Registering minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses.
  • Reviewing and monitoring contracts.
  • Supporting capacity-building efforts.
  • Promoting anti-discriminatory practices.
  • Providing advisory support and education to M/W/DSBE businesses.
  • Helping M/W/DSBEs become prime City contractors.
  • Creating alliances within the City government and beyond.

Our partners include:

  • City of Philadelphia departments.
  • Quasi-public agencies.
  • Private industries.
  • Nonprofit sector.

Connect

Address
1515 Arch St.
12th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email oeo.phila@phila.gov
Social

Join the OEO registry

To apply for or renew certification as a minority, woman, or disabled-owned business, join the online registry.

Events

  • Mar
    31
    Third Annual Creative & Nighttime Economy & Arts in Education Celebration
    1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
    World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

    Third Annual Creative & Nighttime Economy & Arts in Education Celebration

    March 31, 2025
    1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, 5 hours
    World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
    map

    Join us on March 31st for the Third Annual Creative and Nightime Economies and Arts in Education Celebration! Hosted by the Department of Commerce, Creative Philadelphia, and the Mayor’s Office of Education, this event honors Philadelphia’s vibrant creative and nighttime economies while celebrating young entrepreneurs, artists, and makers. This celebration brings together business owners, creatives, industry leaders, and community advocates to connect, learn, and grow.

    📌 What to Expect:
    ✔️ Network with creatives, business assistance providers, and government officials.
    ✔️ Explore business and creative resources available in Philadelphia.
    ✔️ Celebrate young entrepreneurs and makers shaping the city’s creative economy.
    ✔️ Gain insights from industry leaders on building a thriving creative business.

    Don’t miss this opportunity to support and uplift Philadelphia’s creative community.

    Register Today

  • Mar
    31
    Cultural Dynamics: Community Conversations
    5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
    FringeArts, 140 N Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

    Cultural Dynamics: Community Conversations

    March 31, 2025
    5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, 3 hours
    FringeArts, 140 N Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
    map
    Following the Cultural Dynamics: Co-Creating a Vision for Philadelphia convening organized by the Cultural Alliance in November 2024, the Greater Philadelphia Culture Alliance, announces the accompanying Community Conversations series in partnership with PA Humanities and Creative PHL. The Community Conversations will bring together a diverse group of cultural leaders, storytellers, artists, community members, business and government leaders, and local stakeholders to co-create a vision for a thriving, culturally rich future for the city.

    This series is designed to inform and shape a Cultural Plan for the city of Philadelphia with a focus on input from the arts, culture, and humanities community. The Cultural Plan is envisioned as a strategic framework for the city's arts and culture community, guided by a broad, inclusive mission to create a cleaner, greener, safer city with economic mobility for all.

    Register today
  • Apr
    1
    Webinar: Small Business Corporate Practice
    11:00 am to 1:00 pm
    Online

    Webinar: Small Business Corporate Practice

    April 1, 2025
    11:00 am to 1:00 pm, 2 hours
    Online
    map

    Join Philadelphia VIP and TD Bank a free webinar on corporate practice for small businesses.

    This event will help small business owners learn about running a profitable company, accessing capital, and analyzing business competition.

    The workshop is free and will take place virtually from 11:00-1:00 on April 2.

    Register today.

Leadership

Lynn T. Newsome
Deputy Commerce Director

Lynn Newsome became Deputy Commerce Director for the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) in April 2022. In her role, Newsome ensures that the City works with diverse businesses to fulfill its needs for goods and services. OEO aims to reach 35 percent participation from minority-, women-, and disabled-owned enterprises (M/W/DSBEs) on its contracts. Newsome joined the City in 2009, serving as Director of Compliance at the Division of Housing and Community Development (DHDC). In addition to her 13 years in city government, Newsome worked for 10 years in state government in the Department of Labor and Industry, the Governor’s Office of Administration, Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission, Department of Public Welfare, and the Department of Health.

Staff

Name Job title Phone #
Deborah Booker Minority Business Enterprise Specialist II
Office of Economic Opportunity
(215) 683-2079
Mario Crestani Minority Disabled Business Coordinator
Office of Economic Opportunity
(215) 683-2068
Stephanie Cunningham Minority/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Specialist 1
Office of Economic Opportunity
Ariana Forde Executive Assistant
Office of Economic Opportunity
(215) 683-2057
Margaret Gotora Informational Management Analyst II
Office of Economic Opportunity
(215) 683-2037
A. Michelle Gumbs Senior Director for Capacity Building
Office of Economic Opportunity
(215) 683-2152
Nasia Hill Director for Special Projects
Office of Economic Opportunity
(215) 683-4775
Harsh Mehta Administrative Technical Trainee
Office of Economic Opportunity
(215) 683-2080
Tonya Morgan Clerk 3
Office of Economic Opportunity
Ekpenyong Oji Minority/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Coordinator
Office of Economic Opportunity
(215) 683-2078
Jennifer Ricciardi-Wise Registry Manager
Office of Economic Opportunity
(215) 683-2071
Melissa Wright Senior Director of OEO Data and Policy
Office of Economic Opportunity
(215) 686-2035
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