April 2007
Important and timely information that you can act on or prepare for.
Know what’s happening... Find Your Voice. Use Your Voice!

A Reduction in BPT Tax for manufacturing is closer to reality
A change in the way Business Privilege Tax (BPT) is calculated – to Single Factor Apportionment for the manufacturing sector went before City Council on April 19th. The efforts of MAP’s manufacturing working group on tax last year finally seems to be bearing some fruit. The Ordinance was introduced by Councilman DiCicco and Council President Verna. It will now go to the Finance Committee and, if adopted, will save manufacturers an estimated $5.6 Million annually.

Each of you is encouraged to contact members of the Finance Committee. Just ask them to please support Councilman DiCicco’s measure for a change in BPT to Single Factor Apportionment for the manufacturing sector.
Finance Committee Members
Phone
Email
Jannie L. Blackwell, Chairwoman
215-686-3418
Blondell Reynolds Brown, Vice-Chair
215-686-3438
Marian B. Tasco
215-686-3454
Frank DiCicco
215-686-3458
Brian J. O'Neill
215-686-3422
W. Wilson Goode, Jr.
215-686-3414
William K. Greenlee
215-686-3446
Juan Ramos
215-686-3420
Daniel J. Savage
215-686-3448

If you would like to understand more about just what Single Factor Apportionment means and its impact on your BPT taxes, please click here.

The Mayoral Candidates get briefed on Manufacturing

On April 2nd, a piece entitled a “Mayoral Prospectus” was delivered to each Mayoral candidate and to all City Council members (to view the document click here).

The purpose of this document is to positively position manufacturing in the minds of the candidates by pointing out many of the same facts we presented to City Council during our initial meeting with them. I am proud of the work that went into this and it’s already making an impact. We have received calls from many of the campaigns and I have heard virtually all of the candidates use some of the statistics given to them in their campaign talks. They are talking about the importance of manufacturing!

In addition, I will have met personally with each candidate prior to the primary. Even those that don’t win will go back to their previous work with a positive impression of the importance of manufacturing to Philadelphia’s economy. After the primary, I would like to set up a meeting between manufacturers and the two principal candidates.

Mobilizing Manufacturing’s 60,000 vote potential

On the right are representations of two posters which will be going out to every manufacturer in the city. We ask that you place these in the factory areas where your workers can see them. These encourage manufacturing unity and point out that workers’ collective votes can make a difference in selecting a candidate that supports manufacturing in Philadelphia. This is a very important initiative.

I will make sure that each candidate sees these posters. The perception alone that a 60,000 vote potential exists from the manufacturing sector is a powerful one. The pollsters are talking about the likelihood of a low voter turnout for this primary. A united manufacturing sector could actually decide this election! I encourage you to place these posters where your workers can see them!

Mayoral Candidates on Manufacturing

See the answers from the Mayoral Candidates about their policies affecting Manufacturing – Posted May 4th on this web site.
Other issues on the table...

The manufacturing working group on training & employment met on April 19th, which involves Council Members, the School District and the US Dept. of Labor, City training agencies, as well as manufacturing companies. We have identified funds in Harrisburg for training and we are looking at specific training initiatives needed by the city’s manufacturing companies. We are also looking to initiate a citywide campaign promoting manufacturing careers. We need every company to support these efforts. If you are interested in participating in training & employment policy issues, please contact us.

We are bringing to the forefront important legislative issues for the City, namely:

  • A balanced and unified policy for preserving industrial land. I anticipate the start up of a new manufacturing working group on Land policy to convene in June.
  • Long term economic development retention strategies.

Please feel free to give us feedback on any of these issues. If you would like to participate in a Manufacturing Working Group... let us know. It’s a unique opportunity to influence city policy and your own future!
Contact: Steve Jurash, Manufacturing Alliance of Philadelphia, 215.683.2030
Email: sjurash@uiiphilly.org

Also... Don’t Forget
There is still room on our Tour of the Philadelphia Port on May 8th.

Come on, admit it... it looks fascinating, those big ships, bound for exotic ports of call and all that cargo being moved by those gigantic cranes... Join us for a tour of the facilities, maybe even a ship or two. Best of all, if you ship cargo by Philadelphia, you know – ship – come find out how the Port of Philadelphia can save you big bucks. This is a new port with special incentives to “ship it in Philadelphia”.

Tour Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Time: 11:30 – 1:30 PM
Location: Philadelphia Regional Port Authority
3460 N. Delaware Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19134
Join other Philadelphia manufacturers for a Free Lunch and Bus Tour. Please RSVP your attendance to:
Meghan Smyth, 215.683.2116, meghan@uiiphilly.org by May 4th.