Main Street Matters: Shapiro visits small businesses

PHILADELPHIA – While visiting small businesses in West Philadelphia, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Thursday, Feb. 15, joined state Sen. Vince Hughes (D-7), state Rep. Jordan Harris (D-186), state Rep. Rick Krajewski (D-188), state Rep. Amen Brown (D-10) and Enterprise Center President Della Clark to continue his the governor’s Main Street Matters tour.

The tour serves as a platform to discuss pieces of the proposed 2024-25 budget and economic development strategy that officials say will create economic opportunity for all and help Pennsylvanians build generational wealth.

“My administration is focused on creating real economic opportunity – and there’s no better way to do that than to help more Pennsylvanians start and grow small businesses of their own. That’s how we create generational wealth and lift up entire communities,” said Shapiro. “I believe the strength of our communities – and the number of opportunities we can create for Pennsylvanians – is directly tied to the strength of our local business communities and main streets. My budget calls for $25 million for our new Main Street Matters initiative, building off the Keystone Communities program to support small businesses, downtowns and main streets all across Pennsylvania. These investments are going to make a real difference here in West Philly and across the commonwealth.”

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“52nd Street is West Philadelphia’s ‘Main Street,’ so it is fitting that we are here (Thursday) to celebrate this historic investment in main streets across our state,” said Clark. “Communities thrive when small, locally owned businesses thrive, and the investments we make to support successful entrepreneurs directly impacts the communities they serve. From small retail storefront all the way to Fortune 500 company, we want to create the conditions that will allow underrepresented business owners to build generational wealth for themselves. On behalf of The Enterprise Center, we are honored to join Gov. Shapiro to reframe the conversation around supporting minority-owned businesses throughout the commonwealth, and we are excited to see Gov. Shapiro’s 10-year economic strategy continuing to unfold.”