I thought a few on this board would find this interesting.


11 counties now working as one

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

By JOSEPH BUSLER
Courier-Post Staff

The goal of marketing the 11-county Philadelphia region as a single economic unit moved closer to reality today as Select Greater Philadelphia prepared to announce two important milestones.

Select Greater Philadelphia has reached its $16 million fundraising goal, with pledges from companies in all three states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The money will be used to promote the region to businesses around the country as a worthy place to relocate or start new operations.

The economic development agencies of all 11 counties have signed a memorandum of understanding declaring that they will work closely with Select Greater Philadelphia to create a new atmosphere of cooperation to attract companies.

The announcements were to be formally made this evening at a reception at the future world headquarters of Aphton, a biopharmaceutical company moving to the Navy Corporate Center at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Select Greater Philadelphia is an affiliate of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce that was created in October 2003 to attract business to the 11-county region. Greater Philadelphia comprises Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania; Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer and Salem counties in New Jersey; and New Castle County in Delaware.

Gloucester County Freeholder Joseph A. Brigandi Jr., the freeholder board's liaison to the Gloucester County Department of Economic Development, said he welcomed the regional cooperation.

"I firmly subscribe to the notion that what's good for one is good for all," Brigandi said.

"We are competing with other regions of the country for high-tech, good-paying jobs. Rather than little Gloucester County trying to compete with giants like Charlotte (North Carolina), the Philadelphia region needs to have an identity," he said.

Mark S. Schweiker, chamber president and CEO, said that May has been an important month for the region.

The 11-county economic development agency coordination is a first, he said.

"A year ago, when we reached $10 million in funding, we had a reception in Citizens Bank Park attended by all the county economic development directors," Schweiker said.

"It was the first time in history that they had ever been together."I thought a few on this board would find this interesting. I thought a few on this board would find this interesting. [l]I thought a few on this board would find this interesting.[/l]