World Class Greater Philadelphia An Economy League Initiative

World Class Greater Philadelphia is an initiative that convenes business, nonprofit, government, labor, and community leaders to establish a set of long-term priorities and focused strategies to better our region. Facilitated by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, this multi-year initiative strives to make the region a world class place to live, work, and play by 2026 -- the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Initiative Timeline

 
Strategy Development (2012)
Strategy Teams  -- Diverse leadership working groups will develop regional strategies to achieve World Class goals in the priority areas of Education and Talent Development, Business Growth, and Infrastructure. 
 
Global Positioning Strategies - These open-source regional strategy documents will emphasize maximizing the impact of existing efforts and partnerships in our region and will identify opportunities for new investments and programs where needed. The strategies laid out in the GPSes will set the stage for immediate initiatives and campaigns to be taken on by World Class partners and will provide a framework for ongoing research, monitoring, and strategy adjustment by the Economy League.
 
Priority Setting (2010-2011)

Scenario Planning Workshop --Two-day session of a core group of diverse regional leaders to initiate the strategic process of scenario planning. Led by Decision Strategies International, participants developed concepts for four very different, but very possible, futures for Greater Philadelphia.

2026: Future Histories of Greater Philadelphia -- Report presents four stories that explore different ways that national and global forces could influence Greater Philadelphia's future. These “future histories” are intended to spotlight the region's challenges and opportunities and enable business, civic, labor, and government leaders to identify what is most likely to drive our success as a region.

Regional Priorities Roundtables -- Discussion-based sessions for cross-sector leadership to reflect on the regional implications of the four futures presented in 2026: Future Histories of Greater Philadelphia and identify the key issues to focus on to make our region a world class place to live, work, and play. Roundtables will help yield three to four long-term strategic priorities for the region.

Focus 2026 -- Report introduces the three World Class priorities of Education and Talent Development, Business Growth, and Infrastructure, and outlines aspirational goals to guide and focus strategic collaboration among the region's leaders.

Discovery (2009-2010)

Benchmarking -- Research on what the world views as “world class” today and how Greater Philadelphia is perceived nationally and internationally.

Online Survey -- Public survey to gather information on what regional residents believed to be world class at present and what would need to change for the region to be considered world class in the future.

2010 Roundtables -- Cross-sector leadership sessions devoted to gathering ideas about what would need to happen for Greater Philadelphia to become a world class place to live, work, and play by 2026.

  • Chaddsford Winery