Tag: frankford cdc

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Frankford CDC Awarded Grant for Transportation Study

Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development awarded the Frankford CDC a grant of $132,755 from their Multimodal Transportation Fund to go toward a transportation study of the transit-oriented development site near the Frankford Transportation Center.

The Frankford CDC is pleased to announce that in July 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development selected the CDC as one of 103 awardees from across the state for a grant from their Multimodal Transportation Fund. The award of $132,755 will go toward a transportation study of the area around the Frankford Transportation Center, SEPTA surface employee parking lot at Griscom and Pratt Streets, and the parcel at Frankford Avenue and Pratt Street where SEPTA is currently constructing their ancillary control center and employee facilities.

This study will be a crucial part of the Frankford CDC’s pre-development work on a transit-oriented development project. SEPTA’s Board issued a Finding of Special Opportunity this past fall giving permission for their employee parking lot and part of the parcel fronting Frankford at Pratt Street to be used for a development including a new fresh food market and small retail. SEPTA is currently drafting an RFP, with input from the Frankford CDC, that will be modeled after the 69th Street project.

Please feel free to reach out to Ellie Devyatkin at the Frankford CDC by phone (215-743-6580) or email (edevyatkin@frankfordcdc.org) with any questions.

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Frankford Business and Professsional Association: Taking Care of Your Business

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Heather Hanowitz, PIDC, addresses the April 2016 meeting of the FBPA

Bob and I have been to the last two meetings of the Frankford Business and Professional Association (FBPA) and I have been duly impressed with the content and resources of the bi-monthly programs. This is an organization that is serious about business and yours in particular! The FBPA meets bimonthly at Aria Frankford and I expect they need to be thinking about larger space because the meetings are overflowing. Today’s economy is so volatile that I’m convinced we have to be able to create our own jobs and our children will, too! Thus, connecting with others and learning what resources are out there is critical to your success. The FBPA is “a membership-based coalition of stakeholders that strive to stimulate economic development and provide support to the local business community of Frankford”.1 Members are business owners, entrepreneurs (a growing group), community organizations (Keep the Faith in Frankford), the service industry, religious leaders and neighborhood residents. That’s quite a coalition! You fit in this group!

April’s meeting agenda:

  • A presentation by Heather Hanowitz, Vice President, Market Manager, Commercial Business for the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, (PIDC), whose motto is “Driving growth to every corner of Philadelphia”. Well, we have a nice long stretch of avenue and we’re ready. There are workshops for legacy businesses – family businesses passing on to the next generation and working capital and equipment financing monies at relatively low interest rates – 6.25%. In 2014, PIDC reports that they financed area businesses with over $1 billion.
  • Alice G. Dungee-James, MCA, Assistant Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) in Philadelphia explained how to do business with the City through contracts and bids for work and selling your goods and services. Do you know what the city spends and all the different types of materials and services they buy? There’s a good chance the city needs what you have and you want a piece of that pie!! To get started, here’s the link – and if you’re a woman, a minority or disabled, there is no registration fee. City Registration Process! Once you’re certified and registered, the City’s department refers to the this list for procurement purposes. Ms. Dungee-James was very informative and her contact information is on the registration link if you need help. Alice also gave us two tips:
    • Here’s the list of agencies that will certify your business. It pays to shop around, it was mentioned New Jersey charges $100.00
    • It’s important to know your NAICS code for your industry because procurement (buying) orders are based on that code. It’s a good idea to put that code on your business cards.
  • We also heard from Jonathan Synder, Senior Manager, Commercial Corridor regarding the Storefront Improvement Program. Jonathan was “pitch hitting” for Giana Lawrence who had a scheduling conflict. I was really impressed with the transformation of some of these buildings. The program will reimburse you up 50% for exterior improvements that you make up to $10,000 for a store front and $15,000 for multiple addresses or a corner store. Your property must be between 1200 – 3100 Frankford Ave. and 4000-5300 Frankford Ave. There is also an InStore Program that is a “loan forgiveness” plan loaning you the money for equipment and supplies to expand your existing business or adding another location. Their latest online application states 4000-5300 Frankford Avenue businesses are eligible. 6200-8500 Frankford Avenue in Mayfair is eligible, too, if you would like to pass that on. Several Avenue businesses have taken advantage of this program. Once you’ve decided to apply, you’re assigned a Relationship Manager who will walk you through the process. If you want to take advantage of these programs, don’t do any work until you’ve been approved for it. Giana’s contact information is on the website.
  • The new 15th Police District Captain, Anthony Luca, along with Officer Matt Crosson, Community Relations, and Officer Sean Kennelly, who just received a PDAC award for his work solving crimes with a focus on burglaries. There was much discussion regarding loitering that businesses much cope with, recent robberies at fast food restaurants. The Captain responded that if 911 calls are not getting responses after several calls, ask for a supervisor. I know that the city establishes a priority response system and what you are calling about might not demand the quickest response. So you’ll have to use your judgement. But this is good to know for the times that require immediate response and it’s not happening.
  • The FBPA is hosting a Spring Networking Mixer on May 19, 5:30 – 7:30 PM at the Historical Society of Frankford. For more information , contact Ileana Garcia at igarcia.fcdc@gmail.com
  • There will also be a 3 mile fun run fundraiser in October to benefit the Northeast Frankford Boys and Girls Club and avenue businesses. More details will be forthcoming.

These are terrific ways to increase your business and your profits. Wouldn’t it be better for you to be there in person hearing about it? Membership is $60 annually and we would love to see join!

 

 

 

 

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New Members Join Frankford CDC Board

Frankford CDC wants to give a warm welcome to our two newest team members to help our community and organization grow even faster and stronger.

hakimHakim Singleton attended Delaware Valley College where he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting.  He worked for Citizens bank as a personal banker where he led the Center City Philadelphia region in total banker scorecards for three consecutive quarters and produced over $6 million dollars of mortgage volume and later as a Senior Loan Officer.  He also worked with Wells Fargo as a Home Mortgage Consultant until transitioning into his new position as a Loan Officer with Supreme Lending.
mollyMolly Skilton is the Vice President of Community Development Lending at Citizens Bank and has over 15 years of commercial banking experience. Prior to joining Citizens, Molly was with various banks in eastern and western Pennsylvania. Molly holds a degree in finance that was attained at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, her time is spent with family, traveling and volunteering.
The board is also composed of Gary McLaughlin (Chairman), Philip Balderston (Vice President), Michael Galdi (Treasurer), Nidia Mezalick (Secretary), Sandra Barry, Dr. Ayesha Imani and Brett Hart.
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Frankford Avenue Streetscaping Update

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Overview
One of the Frankford CDC’s major projects is developing and implementing a streetscaping plan for Frankford Avenue. With a design grant from the Community Design Collaborative, we are working with a design team to create a conceptual streetscaping plan for the area around Margaret-Orthodox. This conceptual design will explore and address issues of safety, litter and trash, lighting, greening, and stormwater management in the immediate area, while keeping an eye toward repicability along Frankford Avenue. Once the conceptual plan is complete, the Frankford CDC will be able to approach funders to finance the implementation of the plan.

Safe Growth / Safe Commercial Corridor Program
During the summer of 2015, the Frankford CDC participated in the City’s SafeGrowth/Safe Commercial Corridors Program. With a team including police, residents, and business owners, our two commercial corridor managers looked at how design and programming could contribute to the perception of safety around SEPTA’s Arrott Transportation Center, also known as Margaret-Orthodox. The team came up with a number of short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations, including removal of newsstand and benches, more frequent resource tables, improved lighting, and streetscaping.

Task Force Meetings
In early January 2016, we held the first small task force meeting with the design team from the Community Design Collaborative. At this meeting, roughly 30 stakeholders from the residential and business communities as well as from the City discussed various ideas and concerns regarding the area around Margaret-Orthodox to convey to the design team what the major issues and hopes for the area are. From here, the design team will come up with a number of recommendations which will be presented at a second task force meeting. The second task force meeting will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to respond to the preliminary ideas the design team comes up with. With feedback from the second task force meeting, the design team will complete the conceptual streetscaping plan. The second task force meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 17, at 6:30 PM at Second Baptist Church (1801 Meadow Street). Please RSVP to Ellie Devyatkin if you plan to attend.

Timeline
We anticipate having the complete conceptual streetscaping plan in hand by summer 2016. With the conceptual design, we will be able to develop an implementation plan and secure funding for the various stages of implementation. We will also be coordinating with SEPTA’s two-year Arrott Transportation Center project, which will include replacing much of the sidewalk in the immediate vicinity and removal of the newsstand and some benches.

For further information, meeting times/locations, questions, or concerns,
please feel free to contact Ellie Devyatkin
by phone (215-743-6580) or email (edev.fcdc@gmail.com)

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Frankford Tree Lighting 2015

Thanks to the Gilbert family at the Holiday Thriftway on Frankford Avenue, Councilwoman Maria D. Quiñones-Sanchez, State Rep. Jason Dawkins and the Frankford Community Development Corporation, the holiday season was officially launched on Friday night, December 4th with the lighting of the tree.

The weather was beautiful and the kids excited as they had some light refreshments in anticipation of gifts that came after the tree blazed into its glory.

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That spot in front of the Triftway makes a great venue for this kind of event.