Economic Competitiveness Strategy
City of Chester
Economic Strategy
Chester, PA, located in the Philadelphia metro area, was once a prosperous industrial hub until factories closed post-WWII, and has since suffered from a long history of fiscal distress and economic challenges.
The Receiver of the City of Chester hired Fourth Economy to support their economic strategic work by reviewing additional economic conditions like quality of life, housing, infrastructure, business creation, and workforce development.
Our Approach
Fourth Economy conducted a baseline analysis, that included better understanding Chester’s strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and how results would be measured for change over time. A diversified outreach campaign was conducted within the community for residents, business owners, and community partners who are responsible for Chester’s longterm economic health. The community engagement strategy brought forward several hundred voices to develop a clear set of priorities based on the community’s understanding of potential economic drivers like new workforce exposure and up-skilling programs, a diversified housing market, and long term investment in the riverfront.
The Results
The Fourth Economy team developed a clear set of strategies to support the City of Chester’s next step of updating its comprehensive plan. The plan was received by community partners and members of the advisory committee to begin implementation and prioritization of strategies where there was mission alignment to their own organization’s work.
Location
Chester, PA