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Philadelphias vast eds and meds community represents not only academic and research strength, but considerable buying heft. Across the same city, thousands of local companies are eager for some of that business but are shut out.
On Wednesday, the wrappings come off Philadelphia Anchors for Growth & Equity, or PAGE, a first-ever citywide initiative to change that by boosting local purchasing by some of the citys biggest employers.
"This is a unique collaboration between the city, a nonprofit, and all of our major eds and meds institutions. … Theyre all lined up to figure out how to use their purchasing power to create more jobs," said Jeff Hornstein, executive director of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, the nonprofit that founded and is leading the procurement initiative. "This is the first time in this city that anyone has built a citywide collaborative to do this stuff."
The initial aim is to localize $500 million in contracts at 13 city hospitals and universities for goods and services — such as office supplies, lab equipment, food, video production, and web design — and create as many as 5,000 living-wage, middle-skill jobs for Philadelphia residents in eight to 10 years.
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"This is a robust sector that is critical to our economy," Hornstein said. "Its done a lot, but it can do more and heres the road map."
Harold Epps, Philadelphias commerce director, said it is the responsibility not only of the citys corporations and institutions but also its private citizens to strengthen the economy.
"I think everybody needs to be committed … to making Philadelphia a better place to live, work, and play," Epps said. "We have a lot of power in where and how we spend our dollars."
Along with the Commerce Department, PAGEs participating anchors are Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Temple University, Temple University Health System, all of whom provided seed funding. Additional participants are Salus University, Community College of Philadelphia, Einstein Healthcare Network, La Salle University, St. Josephs University, and University of the Sciences.
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