PIDC Expands Commitment to Future Economic Development Leaders with Launch of New PhiDEL Scholarship

by PIDC
February 18, 2025

Categories: PhiDEL, Scholarship,

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For Immediate Release:
February 18, 2025

Contact:
Kevin Lessard, PIDC
SVP, Marketing Communications & Government Affairs
215.496.8161

PHILADELPHIA — Today, PIDC—Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation—is proud to announce the launch of the Philadelphia Diverse Emerging Leaders (PhiDEL) Scholarship and Internship Program. This new initiative builds on PIDC’s long-standing commitment to fostering the next generation of economic development leaders by providing financial support and real-world experience to all students. 

Thanks to the generous support of Crow Holdings and Colliers, the program will spur economic growth in Northeast Philadelphia and create new employment opportunities. The PhiDEL program will provide up to two $5,000 scholarships and paid internships tailored to students’ academic and career goals. This initiative reflects PIDC’s continued dedication to advancing opportunities in real estate and economic development-related fields.

“For over six decades, PIDC has worked to drive growth and expand economic opportunity in Philadelphia. Through the PhiDEL Scholarship and Internship Program, we are investing in dynamic young leaders who will help shape the future of our city,” said Jodie Harris, PIDC President, emphasizing the importance of the new program in expanding access to economic development careers. “We are grateful to Crow Holdings and Colliers for their partnership and commitment to advancing opportunities for Philadelphia’s emerging talent.”

The PhiDEL program complements PIDC’s existing D’Alessio Scholarship for Urban Development, which was launched in 2018 to honor Walter D’Alessio’s remarkable 46-year legacy at PIDC. The D’Alessio Scholarship supports graduate students at Philadelphia-area colleges and universities pursuing careers in urban development and finance. Recipients of the D’Alessio Scholarship receive financial assistance of up to $2,500 and a paid internship at PIDC.

Together, the D’Alessio and PhiDEL scholarships underscore PIDC’s comprehensive approach to nurturing the next generation of leaders committed to transforming Philadelphia for the better.

Marking a significant milestone, Colliers’ Brian Hilger, Brokerage Market Leader for the Greater Philadelphia Region, expressed pride in supporting the launch of PhiDEL: “We believe that inclusive opportunities in real estate and economic development create stronger, more vibrant communities. Partnering with PIDC on this scholarship program allows us to make meaningful investments in the future leaders of Philadelphia.”

PhiDEL Scholarship Timeline

The PhiDEL Scholarship and Internship Program will open for applications on February 18, 2025, with a deadline of March 31, 2025. Eligible students must be full-time undergraduates (sophomores, juniors, seniors) or graduate students at a Philadelphia college or university or Philadelphia residents studying elsewhere. Majors eligible for consideration include real estate, business, economic development, urban planning, law, political science, and other related fields. 

Upon review, awards are expected to be made sometime in the summer. 

D’Alessio Scholarship Timeline

The PIDC-D’Alessio Scholarship for Urban Development opened its 2025 round of applications on January 25, 2025, with a deadline of March 31, 2025. Eligible students must be graduate students at a Philadelphia college or university or Philadelphia residents studying elsewhere. Majors eligible for consideration include real estate, economics, urban studies or city planning, law, public administration, and other related fields. 

Upon review, awards are expected to be made sometime in the summer. 

For more information on the PhiDEL and D’Alessio Scholarship programs, including application details and eligibility requirements, please visit PIDCphila.com/scholarships


ABOUT PIDC

PIDC is Philadelphia’s city-wide, public-private economic development corporation. As a nonprofit founded in 1958 as a partnership of the City of Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, PIDC’s mission is to spur investment, support business growth, and foster developments that create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and drive growth to every corner of Philadelphia. We achieve our mission through a diverse range of financing products, real estate solutions, and business support services. 

Over the past 65+ years, PIDC has settled over 13,300 transactions with a diverse range of clients – including more than $19.5 billion of financing and 3,400 acres of land sales – which have leveraged tens of billions of dollars in total investment and assisted in retaining and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in Philadelphia. Its direct loan and managed third-party portfolio at year-end 2023 were more than $401 million, representing 554 loans. PIDC serves as the master developer of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, leading the planning, development, and operation of the 1,200 campus that now has 15,000 employees and 150 employers who occupy eight million square feet of facilities across a mix of property types.

For more information about PIDC, visit PIDCphila.com and follow us at @PIDCphila on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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