Shining a Spotlight on Local Immigrant-owned Businesses

Updated June 17, 2024 This Immigrant Heritage Month, we honor the diverse cultures and contributions brought forth by immigrants to Philadelphia’s communities by featuring some of our PIDC client businesses that are immigrant-owned. From one of Philadelphia’s first all-grain brew-pubs to a manufacturing company producing 100% nutritional vegan foods, these businesses weave their heritage into

Client Feature: Highway Construction Company Olivieri & Associates Expands by Purchasing Available Land in Eastwick

PIDC client, Olivieri & Associates, is a woman-owned heavy-highway construction company founded in 1999 with notable projects that include the historic street reconstruction of the 300 block of South Philip Street, which won the 2019 Preservation Achievement Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. Olivieri & Associates also just completed the PennDOT Riverfront Gateway Sidewalk Design Project along

Client Feature: H&Mcare Breaks Ground on $13M Project for Home Care Support Services

Last month, PIDC client H&Mcare – a Black- and immigrant-owned home care support services business – celebrated a groundbreaking at 71st and Woodland Streets in Southwest Philadelphia. The $13 million project will provide critical services for the community, including housing to more than 22 individuals over the age of 65, an urgent care, a pharmacy, and residential

Client Feature: Made Institute Fashion School Celebrates 10 Years in Business

Made Institute Fashion School CEO, Rachel Ford, started teaching couture sewing classes out of her live/work loft space in the Old City neighborhood in 2012. She wanted to share techniques she had learned working 10 years at the Philadelphia Opera to this city’s growing number of makers and designers.   Now, after 10 years in business, Made

PIDC Client Spotlight: Silvia’s Bakery

PIDC client Silvia’s Bakery is a Hispanic-, immigrant-, woman-owned bakery that specializes in making Dominican cake, Hispanic desserts, custom cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and cake pops from scratch.  Owner Silvia Paulino grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. Her mother was a seamstress, and her father owned a grocery store in the Dominican Republic in which she often

CLIENT FEATURE: YOWIE

PIDC client YOWIE is a Black-, woman-, and millennial-owned home and life shop focused on curating small collections from founder Shannon Maldonado’s friends, independent artists, and designers. Founded in 2016 as an online business, YOWIE attracted a cult following for its eclectic items and workshops and events. Shannon relocated from New York City to open

PIDC Clients You Need to Know – Millennial Business Owners

This month, we’re recognizing our incredible PIDC clients who are millennial business owners. Millennials have contributed greatly to the new and innovative landscape of the business model as we know it – from embracing digital media to getting creative with e-commerce. Millennials were a big driver of Philadelphia’s population growth prior to the pandemic. According

Celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month – Q&A with Dock Street Brewery

This Immigrant Heritage Month and beyond, PIDC celebrates and supports immigrant business owners and we encourage you to join us in doing so. This month, we interviewed Dock Street Brewery owner Rosemarie Certo on the importance of support for immigrant business owners. Here’s what she had to say.  Dock Street Brewery Rosemarie Certo, owner PIDC

PIDC Clients You Need to Know – Women Business Owners

This Women’s History Month, we’re honoring women business owners by highlighting our PIDC client businesses owned by incredible women. Check out their success stories and testimonials below. We’re proud to support local businesses through financing, education, and other services for business growth.  We encourage you to support these clients and other women-owned businesses throughout Philadelphia.

PIDC Commercial Mortgage Loan

The Commercial Mortgage Loan was developed out of a capital need that PIDC identified for small businesses and nonprofits to purchase their existing locations and benefit from investment in their growing neighborhoods and commercial corridors. By allowing businesses to gain ownership of their physical asset, the Commercial Mortgage Loan helps to build wealth for entrepreneurs