Inclusive Growth Coalition

18/06/2025

Stakeholder Spotlight: Meet Senzwa Ntshepe, CEO and Co-Founder of The Connect. Based in Philadelphia, The Connect is a professional community for people of color, dedicated to helping local talent access opportunities, initiatives, and resources with chapters throughout the east coast.

Senzwa is calling for a more competitive city tax structure that enables and incentivizes local talent — like the ones he empowers through The Connect — to plant roots in Philadelphia and build a life here.

Learn more about Senzwa and The Connect: https://brnw.ch/21wTvg3

PHLCouncil
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Councilmember Quetcy Lozada
Councilman Anthony Phillips

12/06/2025

We are deeply disappointed with the limited scope and delayed pace of tax reductions adopted this week by City Council.

While any progress is welcome, this plan is a missed opportunity that falls short of the bold, pro-growth tax reform leaders know our city needs to compete and thrive.

Looking ahead, we must work together to accelerate reform to create a competitive tax structure that encourages inclusive growth for us all!

Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21wTmnE

PHLCouncil
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr.
Cindy Bass

After making several relatively minor amendments, Philadelphia City Council on Thursday largely approved Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s taxing and spending proposal for the budget.

05/06/2025

With Philadelphia small businesses already treading water — eliminating the BIRT exemption would pull away a lifeline.

The exemption empowers small businesses to reinvest in their operations, support new and existing employees, and contribute to their local community. Eliminating it would devastate local entrepreneurs and could force many to close their doors for good.

Natalia Dominguez Buckley from the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Commerce testified in front of City Council about the BIRT exemption's importance to small businesses. She said now is the time for local leaders to stand with these local entrepreneurs –– and not weigh them down with new financial burdens.

More from Natalia: https://brnw.ch/21wTc73

PHLCouncil
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Cindy Bass
Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr.

04/06/2025

Unnecessary BIRT and wage taxes are holding Philadelphia back. Our outdated tax structure makes it difficult for businesses to grow and hire locally, while also placing an unfair burden on workers.

Eliminating the BIRT and reducing the wage tax would help ease financial burden for local businesses and workers, making our city more competitive nationwide.

It’s time to fix our broken tax system. City leaders must come together and act on smart tax reform to support economic growth, local job creation, and a stronger Philadelphia.

Don’t just take our word for it — hear it from Councilman Kenyatta Johnson

PHLCouncil
Cindy Bass
Councilmember Quetcy Lozada

27/05/2025

Philadelphia small businesses: City Council is making important decisions about your future — right now!

As Jennifer Rodríguez , president & CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, wrote in a recent op-ed: “What they are really deciding is whether your business — your livelihood — will have the support it needs to grow, or if it will be held back by policies that make it harder to survive.”

What’s the threat? The Business Income and Receipts Tax (aka BIRT) that threatens thousands of small businesses — many Latino-owned — with new financial burdens and complexities.

What’s needed? Accelerated BIRT reductions and quarterly filings instead of annual anticipatory payments!

Small businesses need more support, not more stress.
https://brnw.ch/21wSXIR


PHLCouncil
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Councilman Anthony Phillips
Councilmember Rue Landau

13/05/2025

Mayor Parker’s proposed tax cuts run through the year 2038. What’s the delay?

When it comes to taxes, Philly needs bold action and strong reforms that meet the moment and can fix our tax structure once and for all!

For starters: eliminate the net income portion BIRT and cut Wage to below 3%...

Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21wSCMR



PHLCouncil
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Councilmember Rue Landau
Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr.

08/05/2025

When Jigar Mehta heard that the $100,000 BIRT exemption for small businesses is going away, he made his way over to City Hall to testify and members of City Council know just how damaging this change would be for Philadelphia’s small businesses — specifically mom-and-pop businesses like the one he grew up with.

A board member of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, Mehta is knowledgeable about and familiar with many aspects of business, finance, and taxes, but it does not take an expert to see that revoking the BIRT exemption is an attack on small business owners’ wealth and opportunities to grow, expand, and hire more local talent.

Hear more from him: https://brnw.ch/21wSvCV

PHLCouncil
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Cindy Bass
Councilmember Kendra Brooks

23/04/2025

If Philadelphia is going to compete with the growth of other large cities in the region, we need to make business-friendly adjustments to our tax structure.

The Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission noted that the city’s job growth rate has only increased 7.8% since 2001 –– putting us behind nearby cities like New York City, Boston, and D.C. The Commission calls this “a deeply troubling trend.”

With strategic tax reforms –– specifically to the BIRT and Wage Taxes –– Philadelphia can signal its support for businesses of all sizes and demonstrate we are willing to compete with the rest of the region to bring them here and keep them here. Pursuing a more competitive tax structure that attracts businesses into Philadelphia will allow our job market to grow and our city to prosper.

PHLCouncil
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Councilmember Kendra Brooks
Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson

15/04/2025

In a recent interview with NBC10 Philadelphia, Mayor Parker reaffirmed her commitment to reducing the BIRT and wage taxes—slowly. But Philadelphia needs bold action to truly boost its economy. To stay competitive and attract more businesses, eliminating the BIRT and further reducing the wage tax with a sense of urgency is key. These changes would bring more opportunities in, fuel job growth, and put money back into the pockets of so many Philadelphians.

We urge Mayor Parker and City Council to consider transformative changes to the BIRT and wage tax. It’s time to make Philadelphia a thriving business hub and bring in greater economic opportunity for all. Why keep inclusive growth waiting?

Watch Mayor Parker’s interview here: https://brnw.ch/21wS0PX

PHLCouncil
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas

08/04/2025

Did you know almost half of us commute out to the suburbs for work every day? Yep, it’s because of those BIRT and Wage Taxes are piling up faster than snow on the Schuylkill in January.

According to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data*:

• Overall, nearly 44% of us across Philly are finding jobs outside the city.
• In District 10, a whopping 50% are hitting the road to work elsewhere.
• District 6 isn’t far behind with 46% on the reverse commute.

It’s time we flipped the script. Let’s cut these taxes and simplify doing business in Philly. By doing so, we’ll keep our talents in town, boost local businesses, and strengthen our economy.

What changes would you want to see to make Philly a place where we all thrive? Share your thoughts!

*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, LEHD Employer Dynamics Program, 2022

PHLCouncil
Councilmember Kendra Brooks
Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke
Cindy Bass

01/04/2025

Jennifer Rodriguez, CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, recently authored an insightful op-ed on Philadelphia’s tax system. She highlighted an imminent threat to small businesses: due to a court challenge, the mayor proposes elimination of an exemption allowing businesses with less than $100,000 in revenue to avoid paying the Business Income and Receipts Tax.

Rodriguez says if the exemption is repealed, more than 120,000 local businesses struggling under our current system could face another burden. She warns, “If we do not take bold action now, we risk forcing even more entrepreneurs to downsize, relocate, or shut their doors entirely.”

Rodríguez rightly calls for urgent reform. To protect small businesses and stimulate economic growth, we must eliminate the burden caused by the BIRT and reduce the wage tax. These changes will bring in more opportunities and help build a more vibrant economy in Philadelphia. The time is now—let’s help Philadelphia’s businesses thrive!

Read Jennifer’s op-ed for The Philadelphia Inquirer here:

The potential elimination of the BIRT exemption places new pressures on small businesses, making immediate tax reform not just a goal but an urgent necessity.

25/03/2025

In a recent letter to the editor, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia highlighted the transformative potential of Mayor Parker’s proposed budget when it comes to tax reform. But they had concerns that the Tax Reform Commission’s projections assume zero growth. This underestimates Philadelphia’s ability to drive job growth.

As their letter states, zero job growth is just not accurate. Philadelphia has proven its capacity to grow and prosper, and we can afford to make bold investments that reduce poverty and enhance economic mobility for everyone.

By eliminating the BIRT and reducing the wage tax, we can pursue a bold vision for Philadelphia's economic future that fosters inclusive growth. Inclusive growth means more than just a strong economy. It means our economy works for everyone.

See the letter from Gregory E. Deavens, chair, and Chellie Cameron, president and CEO, Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, here: https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/letters/letters-editor-march-15-2025-20250316.html

PHLCouncil
Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Independence Blue Cross