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Making Girard Avenue a Better Place for Business
The Girard
Coalition, Inc. (GCI) works to enhance the image
of the
Girard Avenue commercial corridor: to create a destination for visitors
and a place for neighborhood residents to shop, a district where
shoppers can find unique items as well as address everyday needs, and a
place where large scale development complements and strengthens
existing businesses.
The
Girard Coalition, Inc is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization that
serves the Girard Avenue community from I-95 to the Philadelphia Zoo.
We are NOT a membership organization. While you do not have to join the
Coalition to participate with us in the revitalization of the Girard
Avenue corridor, there are several ways for you to be
involved: Get Involved.
Why?
Girard
Avenue is in a prime location, nestled between Temple
University and Center City, among several vibrant
neighbohoods. It is an historic street with a diverse architectural
history, from nineteenth century storefronts to the magnificent
buildings of Girard College and St. Joseph's prepatory School, |
Growing
Stronger Businesses For A Better Community
This
Increases Jobs
Stabilizes
the Economy
Improves
The Quality Of Life
We
do this by
Providing
Knowledge To Businesses
Through Workshops
& Consulting
Developing
Strategic Plans
Help
Businesses Obtain Funding
While
Working Towards A Clean & Safe Avenue
We
Promote The Area
Advertising
To Customers
Attracting
New Businesses
Creating
Business Development Products to
Help Business Increase Their Incomes
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Running along 11 neighborhoods
Girard Avenue is a major cultural center.
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The Avenue
spans regional attractions, such as the religious Shrine of
St. John Neumann, Fairmount Park, and the Philadelphia Zoo, while
existing amenities from schools to hospitals, hardware stores to food
markets serve the adjacent communities. Historic trolley's refurbished
as modern light rail vehicales, provide riders with a cleaner, faster
and more attractive mode of transportation along Girard Avenue on
SEPTA's ROUTE 15 line across Philadelphia, and large-scale commercial
developments make economic conditions ripe for further public and
private investment in this historic commercial corridor.
Mission
The
Girard Coalition, Inc. (GCI) is committed to coordinating resources to
support therevitalization of Girard Avenue in Philadelphia, including
identifying resources for infrastructure improvements to foster
economic growth, enhancing the commercial environment to strengthen
existing businesses and attract additional amenities, and improving the
quality of life in the surrounding residential neighborhoods.
History:
The Girard Coalition, Inc. was formed in
2003 by the Empowerment Zone with technical support & funds
from LISC as a result of a visioning session with 40 community
stakeholders.
Focus:
The Girard Coalition, Inc. serves the
local, civic and business community in and around Girard Avenue from
I-95 to 33rd street. GCI uses the Mainstreet Four point
Approach for community revitalization. Our efforts are
focused on the following areas: (1) Organization, (2) Design, (3)
Promotion and (4) Economic
Restructuring. A fifth area, Safety and Cleanliness is
another area of concern for the Coalition.
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