Business Associations

The Enterprise Center : The Enterprise Center, founded in 1989 by the Wharton Small Business Development Center, was developed as a vehicle to stimulate economic growth in West Philadelphia through entrepreneurship. The Center recruits, trains, and nurtures entrepreneurs and offers intensive coaching and training in the core areas of business development, sales and marketing, financial management, human resources, technology deployment and regulatory compliance.

UCnet- The University City Network - a collection of retail services : UCnet presents an array of links to commerce, culture, and community in University City. The site also provides coupons, discounts, and exclusive specials for West Philadelphia shops and services.

Close@hand - an online directory for goods and services in University City : An online directory to help you find anything from a bakery or hairdresser to local community gardens and chiropractors.

The Partnership CDC : The Partnership CDC, a local Community Development Corporation, addresses the issues of affordable housing and economic development in West and Southwest Philadelphia. It acts as a catalyst for change, eliminating blight and promoting clean, safe and economically viable neighborhoods.

Penn Faculty & Staff for Neighborhood Issues : An organization drawing from the over 4,000 Penn people who reside in the areas immediately north and west of the University of Pennsylvania, PFSNI aims to help the university focus and apply its considerable resources to preserve and sustain these neighborhoods. The site offers links to local community organizations.

WOLI - West Philadelphia Online : A joint project of the West Philadelphia Partnership and the Center for Community Partnership, WOLI provides a comprehensive directory of links to commercial, recreational, financial, educational and community organizations and services in West Philadelphia.

West Philadelphia Partnership : The WP Partnership is a consortium of community organizations, educational/ health care institutions, residents and companies dedicated to enhancing residential and economic life in West and Southwest Philadelphia. The partnership programs focus on community and economic development and education. The Center for Community Partnerships is Penn's primary vehicle for applying the university’s broad range of human knowledge towards solving the complex, comprehensive, and interconnected problems of the city and the university, with a primary focus on West Philadelphia. Through the Center, the University engages in three types of activities: academically based community service, direct traditional service, and community development.

Cartographic Modeling Lab (CML) -Neighborhood Information System (NIS) : The Cartographic Modeling Lab at the University of Pennsylvania specializes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial research. The CML brings together faculty members and students across disciplines to collaborate on urban and social policy projects and is primarily funded through research grants from foundations and public institutions. The CML creates information systems and online mapping applications and constantly seeks new ways to use GIS and spatial analysis to respond to Philadelphia’s urban and social problems. One of its recent projects is its Neighborhood Information System (NIS). NIS is a web application containing parcel-level and aggregate data on abandonment and vacancy, real estate sales, and neighborhood conditions.

Neighborhood On Line: Philadelphia : This site lists relevant informative websites for each of Philadelphia’s major areas. This link will take you directly to the list of websites for West Philadelphia. It provides information about area schools, crime statistics, real estate, demographics, community groups, as well as the contact information for all elected representatives.

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission : The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) provides comprehensive, coordinated planning for the orderly growth and development of the bi-state region. This region includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer in New Jersey. As an interstate, intercounty, and intercity agency, DVRPC advises on regional policy and capital funding issues concerning transportation, economic development, the environment, and land use. DVRPC provides services to member governments and others through planning analysis, data collection, and mapping services. Aerial photographs, maps and a variety of publications are available to the public and private sector.

Pennsylvania DOE School Profile : The school profiles are part of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). The profiles provide information for evaluating a public school’s qualities and are intended to enable informed decision-making for the public education system. Information is presented at the school and district level and data files can be downloaded. A state-level profile is also available that summarizes the data from the school and district level.

Pennsylvania DOE : The DOE website was developed to open up the Department of Education and make it more responsive to the consumers of education. It offers access to comprehensive overviews of many education reform initiatives and covers topics from the laws governing Pennsylvania's educational system to lists of the home pages of schools and colleges in the state. There are links explaining how to become a certified teacher in Pennsylvania or where to obtain a GED. The site offers up-to-date news and information on programs sponsored by the Department and provides a list of Internet sites for kids, parents and teachers where users can find and share information on educational topics in Pennsylvania and around the world.

School District of Philadelphia : This site provides an array of information on the Philadelphia educational system. You can also find fun and educational links for students and links to resources for students, parents, and teachers.

Standard & Poor's - School Evaluation Services : Standard & Poor’s School Evaluation Services (SES) analyzes academic, financial, and demographic indicators and trends; provides valuable comparative benchmarks; and presents impartial findings on the performance of schools. It links academic results with finances and other contextual factors that can influence school performance. SES features a unique synthesis of financial and academic performance factors that promotes the sharing of "best practices" among schools. SES aggregates and organizes data into a unique framework consistent across schools, districts, and states. S&P's analytical observations measure and assess the relative "return on investment" in education and provide context for this return. Their impartial analysis is designed to facilitate performance evaluation and monitoring.

The Philadelphia Education Fund : The Philadelphia Education Fund, an independent non-profit organization, helps to improve the quality of public education for all children in the city of Philadelphia. Through many initiatives, including direct student services, professional development for teachers and administrators, public engagement, research, and policy recommendations, the PED seeks to ensure that all children in the School District of Philadelphia can be successful in postsecondary education and beyond. This site provides links to the fund’s many programs.

West Philadelphia Schools and the University of Pennsylvania : This link takes you to a page of the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory on a West Philadelphia educational program. In West Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania has been working with West Philadelphia High School and the Turner Middle School in a collaborative partnership to develop skills in students and teenagers to help revitalize neighborhoods in West Philadelphia. They developed a program collaboratively that involves social health programs, a variety of after school programs, adult classes, drug prevention programs, and volunteer programs. In addition, curriculum is integrated with special projects; job training through hospitals, newspapers, and medical centers; and community outreach to a variety of schools and senior centers. This collaborative program has students running extracurricular programs, helping with health screening, and working with youth athletics.

Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Education Center : CCCEEC's mission is to preserve the quality of life for residents living in the Cobbs Creek area of Philadelphia. The education center was established in 1991 to institutionalize the practice of urban environmental education. Among it’s primary goals are the renovation of the stables at 63rd street to create a nature center for educational, recreational and aesthetic purposes and to continue programs for schools, teacher training, and for the community.

Environmental Background Information Center : This link is to a report prepared by the EBIC analyzing community composition, environmental risk, and public health in Pennsylvania. The purpose of the analysis is to assist the Public Interest Law Center in developing comparative public health based criteria for advancing environmental justice. The report maps four health factors in Philadelphia: age-adjusted cancer mortality rate, age-adjusted non-cancer mortality rate, infant mortality rate, and low birth weight rate. The EBIC also addresses the spatial analysis of human population data in Pennsylvania and its relation to the existing sources of environmental stress.

Philadelphia City Planning Commission : The City Planning Commission is responsible for guiding the orderly growth and development of the City of Philadelphia. The PCPC is responsible for the preparation of: a comprehensive plan and its modifications; the capital program and budget; proposed zoning ordinances and amendments; and regulations concerning the subdivision of land.

PhILS - Philadelphia Information Locator Service : The Philadelphia Information Locator System (PhILS) is a cooperative initiative between the Philadelphia Department of Records and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Funded by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Libraries, PhILS provides access to information about city government. PhILS helps users determine what information is available on a particular topic or from a particular source, where that information is located, and how to access the information.

HUD : Link to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Philadelphia Housing Authority : The PHA is a nonprofit, quasi-public corporation, chartered to provide safe, sanitary, and decent housing for families of low income. The Housing Authority is independent of the city government. The Authority's main function is the clearance of slum areas and the construction of low-rental housing made available to families below certain income levels. These projects are financed through federal and private funds, which are repaid through bonds issued by the Authority.

Children's Hospital of Phila. (community partnerships) : The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) was the nation's first hospital devoted exclusively to the care of children. The Hospital is ranked among the leading pediatric hospitals and research facilities in the world. The Children's Hospital Community Network supports the mission of the hospital’s pediatric network through special projects with community groups, external associations to promote the importance of high quality pediatric healthcare, annual events to facilitate networking with groups and individuals who are advocates for children and families, and community education and advertising to inform consumers about pediatric medical care and healthcare services for children.

Mercy Health System : Mercy Health System is a diverse, integrated system providing comprehensive healthcare services to people in all stages of life. Mercy Health System includes seven acute-care hospitals, several ambulatory care centers, physician practices, two skilled nursing facilities, an independent living facility, a home healthcare company, and managed care plans. Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia, located in West Philadelphia is a full-service 266-bed community hospital dedicated to caring for the physical and emotional health of people of all ages.

Ronald McDonald House : The McDonald House opened in Philadelphia in 1974 due to the efforts of Fred Hill, a Philadelphia Eagles football player. Located on Chestnut Street in West Philadelphia, the McDonald house provides temporary housing for families of patients in the area’s hospitals.

U. of P. Health System : The University of Pennsylvania Health system is comprised of a network of high quality educational health institutions. The school of medicine is dedicated to patient care and service excellence, educational pre-eminence, new knowledge and innovation, and national and international leadership.

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania : The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, including The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies, fosters human understanding and community advancement in the Philadelphia region, across Pennsylvania and throughout the nation. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania documents, preserves and shares the histories and cultures of the diverse communities in the Greater Philadelphia region, Pennsylvania, and the nation. It aims to bring together people and documents to explore and interpret history and enrich the lives of the individuals and communities through history.

The University of Pennsylvania University Archives and Record Center : The University Archives and Records Center is responsible for the orderly retention and disposition of all university records - active, inactive and historical. The Center is made up of two branches - University Archives, for Penn history and research in primary sources and University Records Center, which offers secure storage and delivery of inactive university and health system records.

University City Historical Society : The Historical Society coordinates historic preservation efforts in University City and West Philadelphia and serves as an educational and resource center for the history of the area. The web page has news and updates on historic preservation in the area and lists of historic sites. It has brief histories of select areas and sites, and provides links to other resources for history research.

University of Pennsylvania's Van Pelt Library guides to West Philadelphia History : This guide lists publications and other resources containing information about the history of Philadelphia, with a section dedicated to the history of West Philadelphia. Van Pelt Library, the largest Penn Library, collects social sciences and humanities publications, as well as general publications, important city governmental publications, and population and social statistics publications.

West Philadelphia Historic Districts and Sites : This page, part of the University City Historical Society website, lists historic sites and districts in West Philadelphia, each with a link to text on its history and photos.

Historic Bartram's Garden : Historic Bartram’s Garden, a pastoral 18th century homestead , is America's oldest living botanical garden. The 45-acre site in West Philadelphia includes the furnished Bartram House, botanical garden, meadow, parkland and a wetland. The non-profit John Bartram Association operates the Garden in cooperation with the Fairmount Park Commission and it used for tours, educational programs, special events, recreation and as a community cultural center.

Habitat for Humanity West Philadelphia : Habitat for Humanity - West Philadelphia, an urban affiliate of the well-known organization, strives to adapt the Habitat model of affordable housing development to the meet the needs and realities of an inner-city environment and works within the context of community renewal and revitalization. Habitat for Humanity - West Philadelphia operates in the East Parkside and Cathedral Park neighborhoods in West Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Housing Authority : The PHA is a nonprofit, quasi-public corporation, chartered to provide safe, sanitary, and decent housing for families of low income. The Housing Authority is independent of the city government. The Authority's main function is the clearance of slum areas and the construction of low-rental housing made available to families below certain income levels. These projects are financed through federal and private funds, which are repaid through bonds issued by the Authority.

Caliper On-Line Map Library : This site provides data maps that spatially present environmental, population, ethnicity, income, housing and other data. The user chooses a category, inputs the date, location, and other specifications, and the system provides the corresponding map.

Community Connector : This site is for community-serving organizations, funders, academics, and students who are using technology to improve their local communities. Sections with relevant links cover topics such as: how technology impacts communities, tools and ides to help run a community information system, education and research tools, and funding.

MapQuest : Driving Directions, Maps & Live Traffic Reports : This well-known interactive site provides maps, driving directions, and other related information for all locations in the United States and Canada.

United States Postal Service - ZIP Lookup : With this site a user can enter an address and the USPS provides the corresponding standardized address and Zip+4.

American Fact Finder : This site of the U.S. Census Bureau provides population, housing, economic, geographic, and other related data in tabular and map format. Data is available at varying levels – state, county, metropolitan area, town, etc.

PACDC Census Tract Generator : This site generates 2000 Census statistics by census tract. PACDC, the Philadelphia Association Of Community Development Corporations, is dedicated to advocacy, policy development and technical assistance for CDCs and other organizations in their efforts to rebuild communities and revitalize neighborhoods.

The Neighborhood of Fairmount: Philadelphia's Art Museum Area : This neighborhood site has a wealth of information about the Fairmount neighborhood in Philadelphia, including links to neighborhood groups, history, photo tour, commercial establishments and more. Along with the surrounding neighborhoods of Brewerytown, Francisville and Spring Garden, Fairmount is part of the city's Art Museum Area.

Spruce Hill Community Association : Spruce Hill Community Association is a nonprofit organization of over 400 household and organizational members who live or work in Spruce Hill, a community in University City. Its boundaries are 40th to 46th Streets, from Market Street south to Woodland Avenue. The mission of the Association is to promote the betterment of the Spruce Hill community. The site provides in-depth analysis and comparisons of demographics, real-estate market analysis, planning strategies, and survey results on neighborhood and commercial services.

Squirrel Hill Community Association : Squirrel Hill is in West Philadelphia, south of Baltimore Ave and west of Clark Park. This site offers maps, photos, and information about the neighborhood as well as links to local resources and attractions.

Neighborhood Knowledge Los Angeles : The Neighborhood Knowledge Los Angeles (NKLA) site is dedicated to helping to prevent housing and neighborhood conditions from deteriorating in the LA area. NKLA provides tools for accessing property and neighborhood data and works with neighborhood residents, community organizations, and policymakers to mobilize support for community improvement.

St. Louis Neighborhoods Information : This is St. Louis’s community information network, providing neighborhood data, profiles, history and analysis as well as links to local resources.

Brooklyn On Line : This site provides links to local commercial, residential, and government resources in Brooklyn neighborhoods in New York City.

Charlottesville, Virginia Neighborhood : This link takes you to “Monticello Avenue,” a community information network located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The purpose of the CIN project is to promote civic use of the internet by assisting community organizations in establishing web pages, educating community members about the resources available, and organizing electronic community information. The site provides information about government services, school activities and educational opportunities, local businesses, cultural events, health and human service organizations, neighborhood associations and religious groups.

Seattle, Washington : MSN city search guide for Seattle with links to local resources for visitors.

Madison, Wisconsin : This links you to the online version of The Insiders’ Guide® to Madison guidebook. Local writers offer an in-depth look at the area and feature individual chapters devoted to accommodations, restaurants, nightlife, kidstuff, attractions, annual events, recreation, arts, and education.

Connect Richmond : Connect Richmond, a community information network for Richmond Virginia, aims to provide the nonprofit community with centralized access to information to improve its capacity to fulfill its many missions. Connect Richmond helps nonprofits, local funders and local government to determine community needs and assets, and is a source of information that can guide public decisions. The ultimate goal of Connect Richmond is building a better future for all citizens.

Atlantic City, NJ : This link takes you to PressPlus, the Press of Atlantic City online.

University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt Library guides to Current Information on Philadelphia : This guide lists publications and other resources about contemporary Philadelphia with special emphasis on those that provide statistical information for small areas (decennial census geography, voting areas, city planning and city service areas, postal ZIP Codes, and neighborhoods) within Philadelphia.

West Philadelphia On the Web : This site provides a collection of 200 links emphasizing community development and neighborhood resources. It has links to local arts, culture, history, community groups, education, research, health care, business, and more.

InfoShare Online - view and analyze a vast array of community and regional data : The Infoshare Community Information Service enables planners, community activists, teachers, students, researchers, and ordinary citizens to view and analyze a vast array of community and regional data, including population statistics, immigration trends, socio-economic indicators, birth and death data, hospitalizations, local trade data, and more.

Neighborhood On Line: Philadelphia : This site lists relevant informative websites for each of Philadelphia’s major areas. This link will take you directly to the list of websites for West Philadelphia. It provides information about area schools, crime statistics, real estate, demographics, community groups, as well as the contact information for all elected representatives.

Philadelphia National People's Campaign : The local chapter of the NPC is located in West Philadelphia. The National People's Campaign describes itself as a “nationwide organization of progressive activists” with a mission of fighting “the right wing's continual encroachments upon basic human, civil, and economic rights.”

Cartographic Modeling Lab (CML) -Neighborhood Information System (NIS) : The Cartographic Modeling Lab at the University of Pennsylvania specializes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial research. The CML brings together faculty members and students across disciplines to collaborate on urban and social policy projects and is primarily funded through research grants from foundations and public institutions. The CML creates information systems and online mapping applications and constantly seeks new ways to use GIS and spatial analysis to respond to Philadelphia’s urban and social problems. One of its recent projects is its Neighborhood Information System (NIS). NIS is a web application containing parcel-level and aggregate data on abandonment and vacancy, real estate sales, and neighborhood conditions.

Foundation Center : The Foundation Center seeks to support and improve institutional philanthropy by promoting public understanding of the field and helping grant seekers succeed. The Center collects, organizes, and communicates information on U.S. philanthropy.

Crime Prevention Association : The Crime Prevention Center, a nonprofit agency in Philadelphia, provides services to local community centers.

Neighborhood Development Project of West Philadelphia : The Neighborhood Development Project seeks to address the issues of ethnic diversity and poverty in West Philadelphia, using economic-development and entrepreneurial training and an organizing effort called “neighborhood visioning” to bring people together and reduce conflict by getting them to work together.

University City Community Council : The UCCC unites diverse civic and cultural groups and organizations in University City to facilitate communication on subjects of mutual concern and to present a unified voice in representing the interests of University City to the representatives of city government, local institutions and the media.

University City District : Established in 1997, the University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan, and advocate for the diverse, urban community of University City. It manages programs and services to enhance public space, increase public safety, assist homeowners and commercial and rental property owners, and promote University City attractions. The boundaries of the University City District are, on the east, 29th Street and the Schuylkill River; on the west, 50th Street; on the north, Spring Garden Street (to 40th Street), Powelton Avenue (to 44th Street), and Market Street; and on the south, Civic Center Boulevard, University Avenue and Woodland Avenue.