History

Created in 1958 as a nonprofit partnership between the City of Philadelphia and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, PIDC has spent the past 65 years driving growth to every corner of Philadelphia.

60 Years of Driving Growth

In 2018, PIDC celebrated its first 60 years of impact on Philadelphia’s economic growth and development. Go back to the innovative founding of PIDC in 1958 and travel through the first 60 years of its history, the partnerships between City government and the business community through the Chamber, the exciting growth and success of our clients, and the impact of our work on Philadelphia’s economy.

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Client Success Stories

We are not slowing down after more than six decades of driving growth to every corner of Philadelphia!  Check out more recent updates on PIDC’s impact and success stories.

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Recent Stories

September 23, 2024

How Queen & Rook Mastered the Game of Small Business Success

In the age of smartphones, streaming services, and video games, it’s easy to forget the charm of face-to-face interactions and the simple joy of sitting down to play a board game. But there’s a place in Philadelphia that is keeping the beauty of board games alive: Queen & Rook Game Cafe.  Queen & Rook opened

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May 29, 2024

Optimal Physical Therapy Gym Brings High-Quality Healthcare to Underserved Communities

If you’ve ever suffered from chronic pain or faced a difficult road to recovery following an injury or surgery, you understand just how important a good physical therapist can be. Unfortunately, everyone does not have the same access to high-quality healthcare and Dr. Binh Nguyen, DPT, COMT, FAAOMPT made it his top priority to change

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May 29, 2024

Mayfair Family Dentistry—Creating Smiles and Fostering Community

Healthy oral hygiene is critical, not just for a winning smile, but for your general health and wellness. From preventing and treating cavities to detecting early signs of diseases like diabetes and cancers, dentists play a crucial role in our health. Mayfair Family Dentistry is a mainstay in the Mayfair neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. The

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April 24, 2024

Beyond Beauty — Hair Du Jour Salon’s Journey to Success

Hair Du Jour Salon is a cut above the rest. Inspired by her aunt’s support and the desire to provide others with the opportunities she had, Ann Turner embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, establishing her West Philadelphia salon in 2015.  This black-owned salon takes inclusivity seriously. With a commitment to quality services for anyone, Hair

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March 20, 2024

Move, Breathe, Thrive — The Growth of Monarch Yoga

Amid the uncertainty of COVID-19, while many businesses were pausing operations, one small business dared to defy the odds and  set up shop. Monarch Yoga emerged as a respite from the stress and loneliness many of us felt during the pandemic. Michelle Dillon opened Monarch Yoga in June of 2020 to answer the call for

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March 20, 2024

Mixing Business with Family: Cathryn’s Cake Salon Finds Recipe for Sweet Success

In Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane neighborhood, there’s a bakery that’s about more than fresh cakes, pastries, and desserts; it’s about family. Cathryn’s Cake Salon is a testament to the power of family-owned businesses.  Inspired by Fluellen family matriarch Cathryn, the bakery is a true family affair. Cathryn’s Cake Salon is powered by mother Cheryl Foat

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March 14, 2024

Amazing Kidz Academy Celebrates 10 Years in Business

It’s no secret that there are lifelong benefits to early childhood education. Children who attend preschool are not only more likely to succeed in kindergarten, they’re successful throughout their entire school experience and beyond. Lisa Smith and Clarence Morris III, co-founders of Amazing Kidz Academy, know how important preschool education is to early childhood development

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March 17, 2023

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

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March 17, 2023

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

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March 17, 2023

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

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