PHENND Fellows: Community Business Liaison

PHENND Fellows: Community Business Liaison

Park to Broad is a community development non-profit founded in 1999 to advance the growth and unique character of the Fairmount and Girard Avenue commercial corridors, support local businesses located in Fairmount, Brewerytown, Francisville, and Spring Garden and partner with adjacent neighborhood organizations to create a safer, more accessible, connected and equitable community. The organization produces monthly community-building public events and festivals to support local businesses, provides daily street cleaning, and connects entrepreneurs with resources to grow and thrive. Park to Broad also advocates for and invests in infrastructure and amenities to improve the community's safety and quality of life. Through programs and partnerships, Park to Broad leads business growth and attraction efforts to build opportunities for employment and wealth-creation and amplify the strength of the local economy

Member Duties : The Community Business Liaison will leverage Park to Broad's existing credibility and position in the community and add to the organization's ability to address the challenge/opportunity presented by Brewerytown's persistent storefront vacancy. Of Brewerytown's 150 commercial use buildings, 19 are unoccupied on the ground floor - a 13% vacancy rate, above the recommended 5-10% range for a healthy commercial corridor. To address this issue of persistent vacancy, the VISTA will implement an outreach plan for vacant property owners, document and build relationships with potential commercial tenants, and research best practices for disrupting long-term commercial vacancy and blight. Throughout their VISTA project, the Community Business Liaison will build awareness and relationships with property owners, source potential strategies and funding partners from peer organizations and policymakers, and develop business attraction materials for prospective tenants.

Program Benefits : Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Education award upon successful completion of service , Health Coverage* , Monthly SEPTA transportation pass , Training , Childcare assistance if eligible , Relocation Allowance , Living Allowance .

*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit .

Terms :
Permits attendance at school during off hours , Permits working at another job during off hours .

Service Areas :
Community and Economic Development , Neighborhood Revitalization , Entrepreneur/Business , Community Outreach .

Skills :
Urban Planning , Community Organization , Leadership , Business/Entrepreneur , Writing/Editing , Communications , Fund raising/Grant Writing