Did you know? According to research reports from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the share of Philadelphians born overseas is now the highest it has been in eight decades, at nearly 15.7 percent with the majority from East Asia and Latin America.
Immigrants are crucial to our economy – starting businesses, sharing their talents, and strengthening our workforce. The Parker Administration is committed to maintaining Philadelphia’s designation as a Certified Welcoming City, where all are welcomed, embraced and have equitable opportunities to thrive. That includes supporting our linguistically diverse businesses that power our economy with essential goods and services.
Great news! the City of Philadelphia proudly announces a groundbreaking initiative to enhance language access for diverse businesses. In a collaborative effort by the Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Department of Commerce, and the Office of Innovation and Technology, the City has launched a multilingual video series to help immigrant and multilingual businesses access vital resources and programs. The videos are available on the Department of Commerce’s YouTube channel, providing easy and round-the-clock access to all business owners.
Key highlights
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Multilingual Video Series: Available in nine languages explaining the Department of Commerce’s Storefront Improvement Program and the Business Security Camera Program.
- The languages are English, Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Swahili, Haitian Creole, and French.
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Personalized Assistance: Narrated by the Mayor’s Business Action Team (MBAT) which provides support in multiple languages for all aspects of doing business in Philadelphia. Entrepreneurs can contact the MBAT team by calling 215-683-2100 or emailing business@phila.gov for direct services.
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Improving the Business Experience: This initiative advances Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s commitment to making it easier for all Philadelphia businesses to access resources that will help them grow and thrive.
This project was spearheaded by the Office of Immigrant Affairs in partnership with the Department of Commerce and the Office of Innovation and Technology. The Office of Immigrant Affairs received funding from the City of Philadelphia Innovation Fund to complete this project. We are committed to making it easier to do business in Philadelphia as we share information in multiple languages, and in multiple formats to reach diverse business owners where they are.
