Latest news with #WilliamPennFoundation
Technical.ly
10-06-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
A powerful Philly grant is fueling small businesses — but few know it exists
This article is a part of Every Voice, Every Vote, a collaborative project managed by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism with lead support from the William Penn Foundation, and additional funding from Lenfest, Comcast NBC Universal, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Henry L. Kimelman Family Foundation, Judy and Peter Leone, Arctos Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, 25th Century Foundation, Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation and Philadelphia Health Partnership. This article was created independently of the project's donors. This piece is also available in Spanish, thanks to translation services by Gabriela Rivera, digital communications manager at Resolve Philly. When Juan Jimenez first heard about a program that could offer his small business tens of thousands of dollars, he thought it was too good to be true. Without finding out about it through a friend, Jimenez, who owns Castillo Mattress and Furniture, could've missed out on a $25,000 grant from the City of Philadelphia. 'The biggest thing is funding, for most businesses,' Jimenez said. 'What you need to be able to grow your business or to make more money, it always comes down to money.' The money comes from the city in partnership with lender Greenline Access Capital, which gave Jimenez a loan for $25,000 with an 8% interest rate (on the low side) and helped him apply for a $25,000 match from the city's Business Lending Network Incentive Grant Program. While Jimenez and 113 other businesses have landed grants up to $35,000, the program relies on the financial institutions behind it to tell their clients about it, Kersy Azocar, president and CEO of Greenline, told — but there's no requirement for them to do so. 'We see these programs as a complementary financing component to small businesses,' said Azocar, whose firm primarily serves Philly's Latino community, 'that otherwise couldn't get what they needed if they didn't have these grants.' If lenders neglect to mention the program, however, business owners could miss out on the opportunity. 'Ninety-nine percent of the time, they don't even know this grant exists,' Azocar said. 'They've never heard of it. They think it's not real. They're like, no, I'm not gonna get it. They immediately self-select themselves [out].' She worries small business owners won't get available funding — and it's unclear how much has been granted to date. $1.1 million was originally allocated to the program by City Council, and about $2 million has been dedicated to the program to date, according to the Department of Commerce. When the city's Fiscal Year 2026 budget is passed, the expectation is more money will be added to the program. Tiffany Justice, director of small business resources at the city's Department of Commerce, declined to share how much money is currently available in the program's fund. How to land funds through Philly's microbusiness grant program Philly launched the Business Lending Network Incentive Grant in 2022 to expand an already existing program that simplifies the process for business owners applying for loans, according to Justice, of the Commerce Department. Since its founding in 2017, the Business Lending Network has grown to 30 institutions, including banks of all sizes, community development financial institutions and nonprofits. The later addition of the incentive grant allows businesses to get part of the capital they need as a grant from the city, instead of taking out the full amount in a loan, Justice said. Businesses have to be approved by the city to get access to the lending network and they must be working with an institution within the network to access the grant program. To qualify for the grant, businesses and their owners must: Be located in Philadelphia Have 51% of the company's ownership identify as part of a historically disadvantaged community Employ five people or fewer, including owners Earn less than $350,000 in revenue Comply with city taxes The Commerce Department's review board meets weekly to review applications from the lender partners. While the lenders do most of the initial vetting of these businesses, the city dives deeper into their budgets and plans for the funds, per Justice. 'We go over the project in its whole entirety to make sure that it is a sustainable business,' she said. The original funding for the program was allocated by City Council, she explained, and it continues to be supported by city and federal funding. But first, lenders need to make their clients aware of the funds While the city has the final say over who gets approved for the grants, lenders do most of the work to identify eligible businesses and help them apply for the program, according to Justice. Greenline Access Capital, which is an approved lending partner with the city, explains the program and the criteria to its clients, Azocar said. It helps clients fill out the application, submits the application to the city and actively advocates for the business if any issues pop up. What you need to be able to grow your business or to make more money, it always comes down to money. Juan Jiménez, owner of Castillo Mattress and Furniture This entire process requires a lot of trust between the business owners and the lenders, she said. Even if owners are open to applying for the grant, they may face language barriers or lack access to a computer or the internet to fill out the application. Greenline Access Capital overcomes that by walking its clients step by step through the process, per Azocar, but lenders aren't required to be that involved with their clients' applications. The only requirements for lenders are to contact businesses within five days of applying to the Business Lending Network, if they are interested in working with them. They are also required to keep the Department of Commerce up to date throughout the process. To continue being a part of the network, lenders must attend quarterly meetings to discuss increasing access to capital for small businesses, according to the Department of Commerce. Room to grow and recover from hardship Business Lending Network Incentive Grants have gone toward everything from storefront renovations to furthering business owner education and securing stock to keep up with sales. Martha Santos, owner of interior design and event planning company M Santos Interiors and also a Greenline client, was seeking a $5,000 loan, but was able to get half of it as a grant that she won't have to worry about paying back. Santos used the money, awarded in May 2024, to take business and event planning classes with the goal of offering better services to her clients, she said. 'I also learned how to basically manage my business,' Santos said. 'The clients see the difference in my knowledge that they can [trust me more].' The only things Incentive Grants can't be used for are to refinance existing debt or to directly pay salaries. 'It allows them to think big, to really expand their business,' said Azocar, of Greenline. '[To do] things that they wouldn't consider because they didn't have the money.' For Jimenez from Castillo Mattress and Furniture, who got the grant earlier this year, the money allowed him to start a stockpile of merchandise, buy a digital catalog kiosk and invest in advertising. 'Now that I had a lot of inventory, I was able to advertise greatly on those products that I had in stock,' said Jimenez, who launched his business in 2020. 'I was able to increase sales by a lot, and actually test how much customers actually can I get by advertising.' The funding also acted as a safety net when unexpected hurdles hit. In February, Jimenez's store was damaged after the store next door caught fire. But thanks to the grant and loan program, and insurance he bought to qualify for the program, Jimenez was able to move to a new location with a full inventory and get back on his feet. 'I absolutely believe that that grant is going to help me push my business to a lot higher,' Jimenez said, 'than I would have done on my own without that help.'
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Commentary: Aspiring teachers in Pa. need training that provides classroom realities
Students in Christine Persun's classroom in Mechanicsburg Middle School. (Submitted by Christine Persun) Lily stared at me with wide, worried eyes, trying to process every word I said as I explained the problem in her workbook. I slowed down and repeated myself. She hung on every word, desperate to keep up. Lily had immigrated from China just two years earlier and had spent time traveling back and forth. She was an incredibly hard worker, still learning English, and, as a first-year teacher, I had no idea how to help her. Five years later, Eugenio arrived in my classroom from El Salvador. In many ways, he reminded me of Lily—motivated, hardworking, and eager to please. But unlike Lily, he had just arrived in the country and didn't speak a word of English. This time, though, I was prepared. I gave him directions in my very limited Spanish. I used AI to generate translated notes and assignments. I created a Spanish-to-English math dictionary and kept it handy for him. I modified assignments that would help him learn the concepts and experience success. I was ready to do whatever it took to help him learn. The difference? Experience. By the time I had Eugenio in my class, I knew my curriculum and I knew how to meet individual student needs. I knew where to look to find resources. I knew which colleagues to go to for guidance and support. When I had Lily as a student, I was a brand-new teacher, fresh out of student teaching. I had completed my university's teacher preparation program and learned from a supportive mentor, but I was unprepared for the realities of the classroom. I needed a preparation program that equipped me to help students like Lily and Eugenio from day one—not five years later. Teacher preparation programs at the university level often train pre-service teachers through a theoretical lens rather than a practical one, leaving many feeling underprepared for the realities of the classroom. In Pennsylvania, these programs vary greatly in coursework requirements, meaning a teacher's readiness depends as much on their training program as on their own abilities. A publication from the William Penn Foundation found that in order for teachers to succeed, they require much more time and practice in the classroom than current pathways to teaching offer. What future educators need are training experiences that truly mirror the realities of the classroom. This means rethinking how we prepare teachers. Education majors should begin their work in schools in the early years of university rather than postponing until their student teaching experience during their senior year, when they may realize that teaching is not for them. From early on in their bachelor's programs, pre-service teachers should be learning hands-on in the classroom. Integrating early and consistent field experiences into teacher preparation programs is essential. As noted by Carolyn Parker, director of graduate teacher education at American University's School of Education, 'Get them into the schools as early as you can and as often as you can.' This approach gives pre-service teachers the time they need to build meaningful relationships with students and communities, ensuring they are well-prepared for the realities of the classroom. They should be completing experiences by observing classrooms and meeting with students. Coursework should center on realistic case studies with real students instead of abstract theories. While standardized tests like the Praxis have been shown to correlate with effective teaching in specific subjects—particularly those requiring deep content knowledge, such as elementary math and reading—clinical experiences and capstone portfolios offer a more comprehensive way for teacher candidates to demonstrate their effectiveness. More realistic forms of assessment allow candidates to showcase their teaching abilities in real classroom settings, which provides a clearer picture of their preparedness for the challenges of teaching. Structural changes in teacher preparation policies are also necessary. New teachers consistently cite student teaching as the most valuable part of their training, as it allows them to apply theory in real classrooms under the guidance of experienced mentors. To maximize its impact, student teaching should last an entire year, not just one semester to ensure that teacher candidates will be able to manage classrooms effectively. Universities must move away from the traditional model which delays classroom experience until later in academic programs. Instead, education majors should begin experiencing classrooms immediately. Further, licensure requirements should be revised to prioritize demonstrated teaching skills over standardized test scores, allowing for a more accurate assessment of a candidate's ability to succeed in the classroom. A stronger, more practical approach to teacher preparation would mean fewer new teachers struggling to support students like Lily – and more teachers entering the classroom equipped to provide students like Eugenio the help they need from day one. If we want new teachers to succeed, we need to demand change in how they're prepared. It's time to prioritize hands-on experience over outdated theory—because when teachers are prepared, students thrive, and when students succeed, we all succeed. Christine Persun is mathematics teacher at Mechanicsburg Middle School in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, and a 2024-2025 Teach Plus Pennsylvania Policy Fellow.
Technical.ly
17-02-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Philadelphia's open data effort may be losing momentum, but OpenDataPhilly isn't giving up
This article is a part of Every Voice, Every Vote, a collaborative project managed by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism with lead support from the William Penn Foundation, and additional funding from Lenfest, Comcast NBC Universal, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Henry L. Kimelman Family Foundation, Judy and Peter Leone, Arctos Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, 25th Century Foundation, Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation and Philadelphia Health Partnership. This article was created independently of the project's donors. This piece is also available in Spanish, thanks to translation services by Gabriela Rivera, digital communications manager at Resolve Philly. If you want to easily sift through years of Philly campaign finance data or see a map of all the nearest athletic fields, the city's open data visualization tools make it easy. However, a quick dig around OpenDataPhilly, one of the platforms where the city publishes its data, shows some obvious weak spots. Some sources get updated regularly, while others like Police Advisory Commission complaints haven't been touched in years. The city says it's working to make the data updating process more seamless with automated systems and more dashboards to display information. The people behind OpenDataPhilly, a volunteer-run platform that collects open datasets across Philly into one place, say the open data ecosystem faces slowing enthusiasm from the city as administrations change. 'There is essentially still a motivation for the city to maintain open datasets,' Robert Cheetham, 'godfather of open data' and OpenDataPhilly volunteer, told 'But I don't think there's the same kind of energy, commitment [and] resources.' The city established its open data program in 2012 after Mayor Michael Nutter issued an executive order. The initial goal was to publish city datasets in an open data portal, hire a chief data officer, establish an open data working group and appoint a data governance advisory board. The executive order also called for an open government plan. Within a year, the city achieved six out of 10 of its original goals. However, open data has not been as much of a priority for the last few mayors, Cheetham said, and the movement lost some of its energy. By 2019, some of these initiatives, like the OpenDataPhilly platform, remained strong, while others like the working groups and advisory boards had fizzled out. Lack of requirements and automation slow public releases The city hasn't given up on the program, though. It still has a chief data officer, Tim Haynes, and the program still has a system for updating its data with a focus on turning the data into digestible and usable resources, Kistine Carolan, senior program manager with the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT), told Without a specific requirement for city departments to provide updates to data, though, there's a lot of variance, despite years of progress. Frequency depends on the capacity of each city department, Carolan said. 'The sharing of open data has become more of a habit for city departments as part of their process of having data that they're using internally,' Carolan said. 'That's really exciting because often we have been approaching open data with a more holistic model of sharing the datasets themselves.' Still, the system for updating open data isn't as automated as it could be, she added. To combat this, OIT is in the process of moving its central data warehouse to a new version of data integration service, Data Bridge. This shift will hopefully lead to updated data at a faster pace, she said. Leaving more time for staff to work on projects that present that data in useful ways. 'We're pretty excited about that process both for allowing fresher data publicly, but also for freeing our staff to be able to engage in more projects like these dashboards or applications,' Carolan said. OIT helps make tools like the Campaign Finance Dashboard, which comes from the Board of Ethics and presents visualizations of data from campaign finance reports. The dashboard also links out to the metadata and the raw version of that data on OpenDataPhilly. Another use for the data is 'finder apps,' which help people find resources around the city like primary care providers and recycling centers, Carolan said. The free meal finder app presents an interactive map where people can look up locations for food and meal sites throughout the city, for example. 'It gives an immediate resource to people who just want to explore the data for general trends,' she said. From datasets to dashboards that the public can understand Once OIT has updated data, staff publishes it to various platforms within the hour, Haynes, geographic information officer and chief data officer, told The data is published through Data Bridge to two software platforms where OIT hosts APIs, ArcGIS Online and Carto. Those platforms are posted to the OpenDataPhilly website, the city's metadata catalog, and the Philadelphia website along with its applications, Haynes said From there, the data is available for use by students, journalists, researchers and other residents for projects on anything from voter turnout maps to sharing information about gun violence in the city. OIT then works with city departments to turn their data into interactive dashboards and applications so it's easier to understand. Having open data available is important to transparency and supports city residents working on private data-related projects, but also to improve internal operations and make city services accessible, Carolan said. 'Creating an interactive dashboard where people can explore the data, particularly if there's spatial information related to where they live or where they're working, really allows a broader audience to engage with this data and use it in meaningful ways,' Carolan said. A focus on usability, not just transparency, for the project's next upgrade OIT put out a survey to residents in 2020 to get a better understanding of how people use the open datasets and what challenges they have. In response, it developed an open data dashboard in 2021 to track the metrics around datasets that have been shared publicly. 'You'll see a list of datasets and shows when they were last updated, and if there's a visualization available,' Carolan said. '[It] helps people get a better sense of when something was last updated. That was one of the major pieces of feedback.' The dashboard currently says there have been 552 datasets released, but this includes multiple versions of previously released data. There are also 142 automated datasets and 179 datasets with visualizations. Overall, the city's open data structure has become more 'holistic,' Carolan said. Not only is the data available, but they are working to present it in a useful way that will hopefully improve resident experiences. 'More and more we're being approached by departments themselves who want to build these dashboards,' Carolan said. 'They want to do that both to have transparency about their work, but also they are able to use it more.' Sarah Huffman is a 2022-2024 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
