Driving Growth: PIDC Recaps This Season’s Economic Development Conferences

by Lashay Smith
November 20, 2024

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At PIDC, we recognize that staying informed and connected is essential to driving meaningful impact in Philadelphia’s communities. That’s why our team members actively participate in conferences, events, and workshops focused on community, professional, and economic development. These opportunities allow us to learn from industry leaders, share best practices, and exchange ideas with peers from around the country and beyond. 

OFN40 — Made by History. Made for this Moment.

PIDC team members headed to Los Angeles for the 40th annual OFN conference. This year’s OFN Conference theme, “Made by History. Made for this Moment,” celebrated the significant impact and historical milestones of the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) industry over the past four decades. The 4-day conference was attended by over 2,500 practitioners, investors, policymakers, change makers, researchers, advocates and fellow leaders. Our PIDC team attended workshops, breakout sessions, interactive training, and even fun runs! While meeting with old and new friends, we were impressed by the impact others have been making across the nation. Their stories have inspired us, and now that we’re back home, we’re ready to hit the ground running. Learn more about the event.


Advancing Economic Opportunity in the US, hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation at their Corporate Retreat Center in Bellagio, Italy

PIDC president Jodie Harris had the privilege of attending a three-day workshop on Advancing Economic Opportunity in the U.S., hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation at their Corporate Retreat Center in Bellagio, Italy. The workshop brought together a diverse group of leaders from organizations representing the public, private and government sectors. This was a chance to learn about the economic development accomplishments from organizations that operate in a national and international context, as well as an opportunity to highlight the breadth of work that PIDC drives. While some participants were familiar with PIDC, many were surprised by our range of efforts in Philadelphia—from industrial development and workforce skills initiatives to client engagement and our work as a CDFI.

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Novogradac 2024 Fall New Markets Tax Credit Conference

PIDC team members traveled to New Orleans for the Novogradac 2024 Fall New Markets Tax Credit Conference. Hundreds of community development professionals gathered for a two day conference to foster valuable connections with peers, potential clients, investors, and industry experts. Attendees had the opportunity to join different workshops, panel discussions and networking events to learn about the education and networking opportunities in the NMTC space and receive industry updates about the program, including the recent awards announcements and preparation for $10 billion in Allocation Authority available 2024-2025, the biggest since the inception of the program. Earlier this fall, PIDC received a new $55M NMTC allocation to support high-impact projects in Philadelphia. This will continue to allow PIDC to drive growth to every corner of Philadelphia.

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The 2024 Mpact Transit + Community Conference

Last month, Angie Fredrickson, Vice President of Real Estate Services, had the opportunity to participate in the Mpact Conference Mobile Workshops where she joined colleagues from SEPTA, the Philadelphia House Authority (PHA), Empowered CDC, Bartram’s Garden, and WRT Design for a dynamic four-hour walking tour in Kingsessing, Southwest Philadelphia. Titled “Blossom at Bartram: Growing the Future in Southwest Philadelphia,” the tour highlighted efforts to revitalize the neighborhood through safer streets, accessible transit, mixed-income housing, and economic development.

Attending these conferences helps PIDC identify new and innovative ways to  help our community, small business, and organizations here in Philadelphia. It gives us the opportunity to learn more about economic development funding and other opportunities that can help our new and existing clients thrive. Learn more about the event.

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