The Philadelphia Department of Commerce recently launched its Quality Jobs Program.
The program is a fund investing in businesses creating full-time employment with the goal of attracting, retaining, and helping businesses while incentivizing employers to hire Philadelphia residents.
To qualify under the program, a job must be a full-time, permanent position of 30 hours or more weekly, or 1,500 hours or more annually, that pays the city’s minimum wage of $15 an hour. The position also must be located in the city and be offered to Philadelphia residents.
In addition, the business must also provide paid sick leave and employer-sponsored health insurance covering at least 50 percent of the cost or facilitate access to health insurance coverage.
Businesses with more than 25 full-time employees must commit to creating at least five new full-time jobs. Businesses with less than 25 full-time employees must commit to a growth rate of 20 percent.
Participating businesses must submit a final performance report at the end of the one-year grant term. They will receive a grant of $5,000 for each new job created up to a maximum of $125,000.
The grant program will continue to accept applications, including previous grant recipients, while funding remains available within a one-year period.