FAQs
What is World Class Greater Philadelphia?
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.
What are its goals?
- Develop a common understanding of the region’s assets and challenges.
- Use scenario planning to develop and prioritize strategies for ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for Greater Philadelphia.
- Prove that we can work together across boundaries to build collaborative leadership.
- Implement strategies to position Greater Philadelphia on a path to becoming a world class economic competitor by 2026.
Why undertake this effort?
Greater Philadelphia is at a turning point – we can continue to operate as we do today and be a good region, or we can seize the opportunity to be a great one. Growing regional appetite for not accepting “what has always been.”
Now is a time when business and nonprofit leaders, as well as government officials, are eager to collaborate and propel our region forward. Although politics, geography, race, and economics can and do separate us, we all share the desire for a future that is world class – prosperous, sustainable, and unique to Greater Philadelphia.
World Class Greater Philadelphia is built upon two core tenets:
- Strategic regions–places that proactively plan for the future–are more prosperous than their passive counterparts.
- Strategies that incorporate input from diverse stakeholders and promote cross-sector collaboration are the most effective means of driving change at the regional level.
What will the outcomes be?
- New collaboration and relationships between diverse decision-makers in the region.
- Action-oriented strategies for achieving goals that emerge from scenario planning.
- A more prosperous and resilient Greater Philadelphia.
Who is involved with World Class Greater Philadelphia?
World Class Greater Philadelphia is an initiative of and for the region facilitated by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia. It is driven by business, nonprofit, and government leaders from across the region who are passionate about Greater Philadelphia’s potential to become a world class economic competitor. These executives engage in a variety of capacities, serving as co-chairs of the initiative, assuming advisory roles on the World Class Council, and participating in roundtables and working groups. (See also Leadership.)
Why focus on the region?
In a global economy, it’s clear that regions are the primary geographic unit of economic competition. Regions drive the national and global economies – they are home to 7 in 10 Americans, 75% of national GDP, and 70% of all US jobs.
How do you define the Greater Philadelphia region ?
There are many ways to make sense of something as complex as the Philadelphia region. After all, those who call this region home hail from both sides of the Delaware River and from urban, suburban and rural communities across three states. For our purposes, the region comprises five counties in southeastern Pennsylvania (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia), five counties in South Jersey (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, and Salem), and New Castle County in Delaware.
What is the Economy League's role with World Class Greater Philadelphia?
The Economy League plays the role of catalyst and convener, soliciting input from leaders in the region, holding events, and guiding a broad coalition of participants through scenario planning, strategy development, and implementation. The staff supports World Class by conducting in-depth research of key issues and tracking progress towards the long-term goals.
