growth success in the greater philadelphia region

businessclimate.com/philadelphia

in the greater PhiladelPhia regiongrowth business

success

select greater PhiladelPhia | 2013

Culture of innovation transforms region’s economy

Knowledge is Power

www.phila.gov/smartchoice

www.gloucestercountynj.gov

www.sjtechpark.com

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WorkstyleKnowledge is Power 12Culture of innovation transforms the region’s economy

the spark of success 16Clean energy sector generates a wealth of new opportunities

refining new markets 18Marcellus Shale brings new energy, investment to Greater Philadelphia

degrees of success 21Higher education builds workforce, economic muscle in region

Powerful medicine 24The region’s health-care system delivers a booster shot for the economy

lab leader 26Greater Philadelphia’s life-sciences cluster breeds breakthroughs

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in the greater PhiladelPhia regiongrowthbusiness

success

on the cover children’s hospital of Philadelphia Photo by todd bennett

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insightoverview 9

almanac 10

technology 29

transportation 33

livability 36

economic Profile 4136 18

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29

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lifestyleFind out what it’s like to live in Greater Philadelphia and what makes it such a special place to be.

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Workstylea spotlight on Greater Philadelphia’s innovative companies

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in the greater PhiladelPhia regiongrowth business

success

select greater PhiladelPhia | 2013

Culture of innovationtransforms region’s economy

Knowledgeis Power


success

www.universitycity.org

Mercer county

Brian M. Hughes, County Executive • Board of Chosen Freeholders

Mercer County Office of Economic Development and Sustainability Elizabeth Maher Muoio, Director • (609) 989-6555 • www.mercercounty.org

From its historic treasures to its diverse communities and economic stability, Mercer County continues to build its reputation as a top location to live, work and do business.

• Ranked 20th nationally by Area Development magazine for Leading Locations

• Ranked third nationally by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine for Best Cities for Families

• One of the most skilled workforces in the United States

• Home to several leading Fortune 500 companies

• An established Foreign Trade Zone

• Great transportation services including Trenton-Mercer Airport, offering commercial and corporate air travel

FOREIGN TRADE ZONE • SKILLED WORKFORCE

HOME TO LEADING FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES

TRENTON-MERCER AIRPORT OFFERING COMMERCIAL AND CORPORATE AIR SERVICE

NEW JERSEy’S CAPITAL COUNTy

www.mercercounty.org

8 g r e a t e r P h i l a d e l P h i a


success 2013 Edition, volumE 1

ContEnt dirECtor Bill McMeekin businEss projECt managEr eMily McMaCkinproofrEading managEr raven PeTTyContEnt Coordinator JeSSiCa walker BoeHMstaff WritEr kevin liTwinContributing WritErs nan BauroTH, PaMela Coyle, Melanie kilGore-Hill, kiM MadloM, kaTHryn roySTersEnior graphiC dEsignErs STaCey alliS, laura GallaGHer, kriS SexTon, Jake SHoreS, vikki williaMSgraphiC dEsignErs kara leiBy, eriCa laMPley, kaCey PaSSMoresEnior photographErs JeFF adkinS, Brian McCordstaff photographErs MarTin B. CHerry, MiCHael ConTi Color imaging tEChniCian aliSon HunTerintEgratEd mEdia managEr MaTT MCwHorTerad produCtion managEr kaTie MiddendorFad traffiC assistants krySTin leMMon, PaTriCia MoiSan

Chairman GreG THurManprEsidEnt/publishEr BoB SCHwarTzManExECutivE viCE prEsidEnt ray lanGensEnior v.p./salEs Todd PoTTersEnior v.p./opErations CaSey HeSTersEnior v.p./CliEnt dEvElopmEnt JeFF HeeFnersEnior v.p./agribusinEss publishing kiM HolMBerGv.p./businEss dEvElopmEnt Clay Perryv.p./ExtErnal CommuniCations Teree CaruTHerSv.p./visual ContEnt Mark ForeSTerv.p./ContEnt opErations naTaSHa lorenSv.p./travEl publishing SuSan CHaPPellv.p./salEs rHonda GraHaM, HerB HarPer, Jarek SwekoSkyControllEr CHriS dudleysEnior aCCountant liSa owenSaCCounts payablE Coordinator Maria McFarlandaCCounts rECEivablE Coordinator diana GuzMansalEs support Coordinator CHriSTina MorGansalEs support projECt managEr Sara quinTit dirECtor daniel CanTrellWEb CrEativE dirECtor alliSon daviSWEb ContEnt managEr JoHn HoodWEb dEsignEr ii riCHard STevenSWEb dEvElopmEnt lEad yaMel HallWEb dEvElopEr i nelS noSeworTHyphotography dirECtor JeFFrey S. oTToCrEativE sErviCEs dirECtor CHriSTina CardenCrEativE tEChnology analyst BeCCa aryaudiEnCE dEvElopmEnt dirECtor deanna nelSonnEW mEdia assistant alySSa diCiCCodistribution dirECtor Gary SMiTHExECutivE sECrEtary kriSTy dunCanhuman rEsourCEs managEr PeGGy BlakerECEptionist linda BiSHoP

Growth, Business Success in the Greater Philadelphia Region is published annually by Journal Communications inc. and is distributed through the Select Greater Philadelphia. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at [email protected].

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Overview

ten good reasons to select greater PhiladelphiaThe 11-counTy region offers dynamic economy, superior qualiTy of life

1. an economic powerhouse: The 11-county Greater Philadelphia region’s dynamic $388 billion economy is highly diverse and includes major sectors in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, life sciences, information technology, logistics, financial services, health and education.

2. an address for business: Some of the world’s most recognized companies are based in the region including duPont, Campbell Soup, Gore-Tex and Comcast/nBC. The region is headquarters for 12 Fortune 500 companies.

3. Where the world comes: More than 700 foreign companies have operations in Greater Philadelphia supported in part by the presence of major international air service.

4. all the right connections: an integrated transportation infrastructure includes major port facilities on the delaware river, interstate access to major east Coast and Midwest markets, three Tier i rail carriers, and major airports with international service including Philadelphia international airport and new Castle airport.

5. center of innovation: Greater Philadelphia is a place of discovery with highly regarded colleges and universities, world-class research institutions, a skilled workforce and a wealth of venture capital, technical support and other resources.

6. renewed energy: The region’s innovative and dynamic energy sector is generating millions of dollars in investment and creting hundreds of new jobs.

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7. Knowledge is power: The economic engine of Greater Philadelphia is fueled by more than 100 colleges and universities that enroll more than 400,000. nearly one in three residents over age 25 holds a bachelor’s degree or higher.

8. to your health: The region includes more than 197 hospitals and more than 15 major health systems, four children’s hospitals and six medical schools. The region is home to major teaching hospitals and is a national leader as a location for clinical trials.

9. Plenty to do: Greater Philadelphia has galleries, museums, theaters, orchestras and other arts attractions, as well as vibrant nightlife and entertainment, and collegiate and professional sports.

10. big as all outdoors: The region is overflowing with outdoor opportunities from 11 national parks, green spaces, forests and waterways including the delaware and lehigh national Heritage Corridor.

Select Greater Philadelphia is an economic development marketing organization dedicated to attracting companies in the 11-county, three-state Greater Philadelphia region. For more information on relocation, expansion or starting a business, contact Select Greater Philadelphia at (800) 221-0774 or go to www.selectgreaterphiladelphia.com.

Select Greater PhiladelPhia

Almanac

cooKing uP groWthFounded in 1869, the Campbell Soup Co. has grown from a small-scale food cannery into a multinational corporation and iconic brand that employs 17,000 people.

although Campbell, based in Camden, n.J., is best known for its extensive line of canned soups, it also produces several other well-known brands including Pepperidge Farm, v8, Pace, Prego and Swanson. These brands are divided between three distinct divisions in the company that cater to different markets – simple meals, baked snacks and health beverages.

Capitalizing on the success of its brands, Campbell unveiled its new employee Center in 2010 as part of a $93 million expansion of its headquarters. visit www.campbellsoup.com for more information.

clothed in successHeadquartered in newark, del., w.l. Gore & associates inc. was founded in 1958 by Bill and vieve Gore, pictured above. Today, Gore has approximately 10,000 associates worldwide, and it achieves average annual revenues of more than $3.2 billion.

Gore is best known for its famous line of Gore-Tex fabrics, but it also offers an array of other innovative products. These products are based on Gore’s unique fluoropolymer material, which has applications in the clothing, medical and electronics industries.

Gore also provides a superior workplace, as it earned a spot on Fortune’s 2012 list of 100 Best Companies to work For in the united States, marking the company’s 15th consecutive appearance on the list. learn more at www.gore.com.

Wired For ProsPerityBased in Philadelphia, Comcast is one of the world’s leading media, entertainment and communications companies.

Comcast’s principal business is the operation of its cable systems through Comcast Cable, which provides digital television, telephone and internet services. its on-demand service boasts more than 75,000 movies and television shows, and its internet service is the nation’s largest residential provider.

in addition to these services, Comcast also develops, produces and distributes entertainment news and sports to global audiences through its majority ownership and managerial role of nBC universal, which includes access to theme parks, a major motion picture company and numerous television production operations. See more at xfinity.comcast.net.


tending to medical suPPly linesamerisourceBergen, headquartered in valley Forge, Pa., is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical services companies.

amerisourceBergen formed in 2001 when competitors ameriSource Health Corporation and Bergen Brunswig Corporation merged. Today, amerisourceBergen boasts 26 pharmaceutical distribution centers and four specialty distribution centers in the united States, nine distribution centers in Canada, and more than 1 million square feet of packaging production capacity throughout the united States and the united kingdom.

These capabilities allow amerisourceBergen to process about 20 percent of all pharmaceuticals distributed in the united States. with a workforce of more than 11,000 people and revenue of $80 billion, amerisourceBergen ranked 29th on the 2012 Fortune 500 list. Find more information at www.amerisourcebergen.com.

it’s What the Kids (and adults) are WearingPhiladelphia is home base for urban outfitters inc., the flagship brand of a collection of retail stores that also includes anthropologie, Free People, BHldn and Terrain.

Founded in 1970, urban outfitters operates more than 130 stores around the world that offer trendy clothing for customers in the 18- to 30-year-old demographic. Founded in wayne, Pa., anthropologie includes more than 175 stores worldwide and offers clothing, accessories and decor primarily for women.

Free People, founded in 1984, includes more than 30 stores and provides assorted apparel, accessories and housewares for young women. BHldn launched in 2011 to offer brides, partygoers and party throwers a variety of fun apparel items. Founded in 2008, Terrain blends home and garden decor and accessories to provide the perfect environment for hosting events and workshops. visit www.urbn.com for more information.

a sound investmentvanguard Group inc. was officially founded in 1975, but it has roots dating further back to its first fund in 1929, which was known as the wellington Fund.

Today, vanguard has its corporate headquarters in Malvern, Pa., and it is one of the largest investment management companies in the world. vanguard employs about 13,000 people worldwide, and it manages about 170 international funds in addition to nearly $2 trillion in u.S. mutual funds it managed as of december 2011.

vanguard offers investors a wide range of options, services and strategies for virtually every type of investment from personal and institutional stocks to 529 college-savings plans and small business retirement plans. See more at www.vanguard.com.


ph oto C ou r t E sy of van guard

Business Climate

Knowledge is Powerculture of innovation transforms greater philadelphia’s economy


e ven before the birth of the United States, the city of Philadelphia was a

wellspring of original thinking and innovation that gave birth to American ingenuity.

Today that spirit continues to burn brightly across the 11-county, three-state Greater Philadelphia region, where

Fortune 500 companies and startups alike pursue their quest to discover new opportunities for growth and expansion.

A powerful combination of academic know-how, world-class research facilities, a highly educated workforce and superior infrastructure has helped fashion a knowledge-based $388 billion

economy that includes major industry segments in advanced manufacturing, life sciences and medical technology, health care, clean energy, finance, communications, and transportation and logistics.

The region lies in the heart of a cluster of pharmaceutical and life-sciences discovery, and with

Story by Nan BaurothPhotography by Todd Bennett



its concentration of top-shelf health-care systems, teaching hospitals and medical schools, it is an ideal laboratory for advances in medicine.

“Philadelphia is the birthplace of health care in America,” says Tom Morr, president and CEO of Select Greater Philadelphia, an economic development organization that promotes business investment and job creation in the region. “We had the first public hospital, first medical school, first school of pharmacy and first private biomedical research organization.”

PhiladelPhia’s neW energyTraditional manufacturing,

long a stronghold in the region, is also finding a favorable environment for re-engineering for the new economy. Within the last year, three refineries that were to be closed have been repurposed. Delta Airlines purchased one, teaming with Monroe Energy to produce jet fuel at lower costs. Philadelphia Energy Solutions, a joint venture of Sunoco and Carlyle Group, bought another to refine a less expensive crude oil from the Midwest brought in by rail.

“We have new teams that are going to leverage Pennsylvania’s position as an energy state,” Morr says.

With its locational advantages, lower costs compared to other Northeast markets and a quality of life that includes hundreds of cultural, arts, recreational, entertainment and sports options, the region is a destination of choice for corporate headquarters. Twelve Fortune 500 and 32 Fortune 1000 companies are based in the region, and some of the world’s best-known brands, including DuPont, Gore-Tex, Campbell Soup Co. and Comcast/NBC make their corporate home in the area.

Vanguard, one of the world’s largest investment management companies and a leading provider of company-sponsored retirement plan services, is based in Valley Forge, Pa. For Vanguard President and CEO William McNabb III,

the sum of Greater Philadelphia’s assets is greater than the value of its parts.

“Vanguard now has almost 10,000 people in the region, and if you think about the various suppliers and businesses that are related to our success that have grown up, you have this multiplier effect,” he says. “The same is true of the pharmaceutical sector. Educational institutions here have spawned businesses to support them. In this region, success breeds success.”

global reachThe world is also catching on

to Greater Philadelphia. More than 700 foreign companies from 39 different nations have operations in Greater Philadelphia, supported in part by the presence of international chambers of commerce, foreign consulates and major international air service.

Greater Philadelphia’s unparalleled logistical access to prime markets here and abroad is another advantage for businesses seeking to grow. The region is in the heart of the largest U.S. market, with 48 million people within a 200-mile radius. It offers port facilities, major freight and passenger rail service, and the largest amount of refrigerated warehousing on the East Coast. Travelers reach Washington and New York City in less than two hours by train and enjoy nonstop flights to major markets in Europe.

legacy oF learningRob Wonderling, president of

the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, says a deeply rooted legacy of higher education has transformed the region into a knowledge-based economy.

“Greater Philadelphia is home to 101 colleges and universities, and awards more than 80,000 degrees and certificates annually,” he says. “These are complemented by a multitude of professional and business services, including leading financial services companies and prestigious law firms.”

The amtrak station in wilmington, del., one of the region’s centers of commerce

Greater PhiladelPhia by the NumberS (2012)

6.28 mPopulation

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$50,900Per capita personal income

$135,000Personal income per household

3.18 mlabor force

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FortuNe 500 comPaNieS

company location overall ranking 2012 revenue

amerisourceBergen valley Forge, Pa. 29 $80.2 billion

Comcast Philadelphia 49 $55.8 billion

duPont wilmington, del. 72 $38.7 billion

aramark Philadelphia 204 $13.2 billion

lincoln national radnor, Pa. 247 $10.6 billion

nrG energy Princeton, n.J. 284 $9.1 billion

Crown Holdings Philadelphia 296 $8.6 billion

Campbell Soup Camden, n.J. 334 $7.7 billion

universal Health Service king of Prussia, Pa. 339 $7.5 billion

uGi king of Prussia, Pa. 403 $6.1 billion

SlM newark, del. 426 $5.8 billion

SunGard data Systems wayne, Pa. 480 $5.0 billion

more at businessclimate.com/PhiladelPhia

www.bcbridges.org


the spark of successclean-energy sector creates opportunities for region

Story by Kathryn RoysterPhotography by Todd Bennett

greater Philadelphia is re-energizing its economy – literally. Energy innovators

are f locking to the region, where the industry thrives on strong public support, strategic partnerships and a ready market.

With its more than 100 colleges and universities providing both research prowess and a highly skilled workforce, as well as a wealth of venture capital, technical support and other resources, the region has crafted a thriving and growing energy sector that is creating millions of dollars in new investment and hundreds of new jobs.

strong grid, strong businessMany of these companies are

attracted by Greater Philadelphia’s presence in the nation’s largest power grid, which is coordinated over a 13-state area by Valley Forge-based regional transmission organization PJM. By carefully managing the f low of electricity through the grid, PJM ensures power stability and efficiency for 60 million customers.

Working alongside PJM are companies like Viridity Energy, which helps Greater Philadelphia’s largest energy users manage their draw on the grid.

Viridity’s primary product is VPower, a software platform that monitors the wholesale energy market in real time and automatically adjusts a client’s energy usage accordingly. The company also consults with large energy users to help them find ways to supply some of their own power.

Viridity has attracted the attention of Japan-based IT firm Mitsui & Co., Ltd., which plans to invest $15 million in Viridity and take the company’s products to Europe and Asia. Viridity and Mitsui also plan to work together on innovations like smart- and micro-grid systems.

The navy yard in Philadelphia covers 1,200 acres and includes more than 120 companies and 10,000 employees. The campus is home to the energy efficient Buildings Hub, which opened in February 2011, as well as the Mark Group’s north american headquarters.


Audrey Zibelman, the company’s president and CEO, says Greater Philadelphia itself contributes to her company’s success.

“The universities here are important to us because we need educated workers who are eager to do things differently,” she says. “And this location gives us extraordinary access to major markets like New York, Boston and D.C.”

innovating For eFFiciencyThe region is on the leading

edge of energy-related research and innovation, and the famed Philadelphia Naval Yard is at the epicenter of those efforts.

Funded by $159 million in federal and state grants, the Energy Efficient Buildings Hub opened at the Navy Yard in 2011. The Hub’s goal is to reduce energy usage in commercial buildings by 20 percent by 2020 via whole-building advanced energy retrofits. The EEB’s efforts are concentrated on accelerating adoption of Advanced Energy Retrofits, new but proven technologies, systems and processes that can drive energy and economic savings.

Laurie Actman, the EEB’s deputy director, says those efforts can include anything from system upgrades to active management of employee energy use.

It’s an ambitious project, helped along by a Pennsylvania State University-backed coalition of schools, laboratories, utilities and economic development organizations.

“We’ve got the thinkers who are innovating ideas combined with the companies that are trying to implement them. They play off each other in a way that generates real solutions,” Actman says.

The region is already a leader in LEED-certified buildings, with 193 totaling 22.1 million square feet, as well as 336 LEED-registered buildings totaling 103.9 million square feet, as of August 2012.

Philadelphia in 2012 joined a small list of cities mandating owners of commercial buildings with indoor f loor space of 50,000 square feet or more “benchmark” their buildings annually.

Benchmarking requires owners to input the energy and water use of their buildings into an Environmental Protection Agency data tool that compares building resource use against buildings of similar type, size and use, and generates a 1-100 score and a report.

Cities that have made similar requirements have seen a 6 to 7 percent decrease in energy use, as building owners made their properties more efficient.

A number of green tech companies have operations in the region with a diverse focus including the design of green buildings, the production of material used in solar-power production, smart grid technologies, energy-efficient control systems and power generation using renewable sources.

One of them, Mark Group, reaches out to homeowners. The England-based company opened its North American headquarters in the Navy Yard in 2010.

Mark Group installs energy-efficiency solutions; conducts energy audits; and services HVAC and solar-power systems. About 1,500 Greater Philadelphia homeowners hire Mark Group each year.

Abby Feinstein, sales and marketing manager, sees the company’s success as a natural outgrowth of Greater Philadelphia’s support for energy companies. Both the EnergyWorks program and the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability have helped Mark Group find contractors and better understand the market.

“The market here has just the right mix of need, education and desire,” she says. “We hope more energy-related companies will come join us because it can only spread awareness and raise the tide for everyone.”

The Mark Group provides energy-efficiency solutions to homeowners, and plans to expand into Chicago, Boston and Baltimore.

The center of the green building universe will be in Greater Philadelphia in november 2013. Billed as the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, the three-day GreenBuild event will bring 30,000 industry professionals to the region for seminars, trade shows and tours of the region’s 193 LEED-certified buildings. The delaware valley Green Building Council will be official host chapter. Find more at www.greenbuildexpo.org.

iF you GreeNbuild it ...


refining new marketsmarcellus shale brings new energy, investment to greater philadelphia

Story by Pamela Coyle • Photography by Todd Bennett

massive natural gas reserves embedded in Pennsylvania’s shale formations are

reshaping the mid-Atlantic’s energy economy and attracting new investment and job creation to Greater Philadelphia.

The Marcellus Shale Reserve holds enough natural gas to lead the United States in fuel supply, providing a low-cost energy source and boosting the country’s energy independence. The resource is, quite simply, “a game changer,” says Andrew Levine, co-chair of the renewable energy and clean technology law practice at Stradley Ronon.

Major energy-sector players are creating shale-related partnerships and collaborations throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. New infrastructure transporting the natural gas and its liquid by-products to the region will not only drop energy generation costs but also establish the area as a shipping hub and destination for manufacturers that need either reliable low-cost power or that use natural gas as a feedstock. These new natural gas supplies cost about one-sixth the equivalent amount of petroleum.

“This is a very exciting time,” Levine says.

neW liFe For old reFineriesIn Delaware County, Pa., Sunoco

is remaking the idled Marcus Hook refinery into a new facility to process liquid products from the Marcellus reserves; its subsidiary, Sunoco Logistics Partners LP, is spending $600 million on pipeline projects to move the material to big markets that include southeast Pennsylvania.

Mariner East, a new pipeline, will transport propane and ethane from western Pennsylvania to Marcus Hook for processing and shipping to domestic and international markets.

“Right now there is a bottleneck, a lack of infrastructure to move these materials to market,” says Thomas Golembeski, chief spokesman for Sunoco, which completed a merger with Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners in October 2012.

In September 2012 Sunoco Logistics announced it had a successful open season and binding commitments for the capacity of Mariner East, green-lighting construction to start.

“It marks the first step in revitalizing the use of the site,” Golembeski says. “It is an 800-acre site, right on the Delaware River. We view it as a regional asset.”

Mariner East’s initial capacity will be about 70,000 barrels per day of natural gas liquids with support for higher volumes; Mariner East is expected to start moving propane by the second half of 2014 and be fully operational, delivering both propane and ethane, in the first half of 2015.

cracKing carbon, adding value

Philadelphia Energy Solutions, in a partnership with The Carlyle Group and Sunoco, will renovate the longest continuously operating refinery in the United States, updating and expanding the facility to process shale gas, convert components to other products and create electrical power.

“We will have a lot of natural gas brought into the refining complex and not just as fuel but as value-added businesses that take the gas and add molecules and convert them to other products, from chemicals for agribusiness to synthetic diesel

b u s i n e s s c l i m a t e . c o m / p h i l a d e l p h i a 19 18 G r e a t e r p h i l a d e l p h i a

oil,” says Phil Rinaldi, CEO of Philadelphia Energy Solutions. “It is meant to be a facility working across the spectrum of energy.”

First up among big capital projects for PES is modifying existing equipment to process the shale products into higher-grade, cleaner-burning commodities. “The hydrocracker will be in two phases,” Rinaldi says. “Because this is a continuum, treating with hydrogen, you get to a technical point at which operation becomes so intense you have to build additional facilities. That creates a lot of construction work.”

The first phase is expected to start in early 2013, and the second phase within a year of that, he says. Future plans include a shale gas-to-liquids processor and using shale gas to power a 600- to 700-megawatt co-generation plant. PES will create thousands of construction jobs and 100 to 200 permanent jobs in addition to securing the jobs of 850 workers already on site.

marcellus shale: only the beGinninG

Regional consumers already are benefiting from the shale reserves.

“Our average customer is paying 40 percent less than they did four years ago on their natural gas bill,” says Joseph Swope, spokesman for UGI Corp., the largest distributor in Pennsylvania. Prices and market stability will improve even further with planned pipeline projects, he says.

“Up until four to five years ago, the talk was about the tight balance between supply and demand,” Swope says. “You don’t have that anymore. It is local. There aren’t transportation costs like gas associated with the Gulf of Mexico.”

The impact of Marcellus Shale is immediate but only beginning, Levine says. “For Greater Philadelphia it creates a brand-new plan for our regional economy,” he says.

NEW YORK

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The former Sunoco refinery complex in Philadelphia is undergoing a major renovation.

Marcellus shale area: New research shows an estimated 500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas lines within the rock.

Devonian Black shale succession: The Marcellus Shale comprises part of this large formation.

www.udel.edu/star


degrees of successhigher education builds workforce, economic muscle in region

Story by Kim Madlom

t he more educated the population, the more robust the economy – a proven theory that puts Greater Philadelphia in an enviable

position in terms of economic growth.“The region’s 100-plus colleges and universities

have created a vibrant higher education sector in Greater Philadelphia,” says the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, president of Villanova University near Philadelphia. “Our institutions are leading economic drivers and make significant fiscal, academic, civic and social contributions in their communities and beyond.”

The engine of innovation in Greater Philadelphia is fueled by the higher education sector, with total full- and part-time enrollment of more than 400,000 and more than 85,000 degrees and certificates awarded each year. These colleges and universities keep the economy of the region stocked with highly skilled and educated workers, provide leading-edge research capabilities across a gamut of disciplines, and supply critical skills training programs.

more degrees, more successThe educational level of the Greater Philadelphia

workforce is impressive. The percentage of the population with bachelor’s and advanced degrees far outpaces the national average. In 2010, nearly one in three Greater Philadelphia residents age 25 years and older had a bachelor’s degree or higher – 5 percentage points above the national figure. More than 13 percent of the region’s population held advanced degrees compared to the U.S. share of 10.3 percent.

A 2010 study found the region’s colleges and universities grant more professional degrees (law degrees, medical degrees and MBAs) on a per-10,000-resident basis than anywhere in the nation.

villanova university enrolls more than 6,500 undergraduate students and more than 3,500 graduate students.

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“The knowledge industries of the Greater Philadelphia region are fueled by the advanced degrees produced in our region,” says Wendell E. Pritchett, chancellor, Rutgers University-Camden.

Universities in the region such as Princeton University, Temple University, Rutgers-Camden, the University of Pennsylvania, Rowan University, St. Joseph’s University, the University of Delaware and Widener University continuously work to keep professional and graduate programs in sync with current and emerging best practices, whether they are large state-run institutions or smaller private colleges.

The Community College of Philadelphia is also doing its part to provide employers with a workforce that keeps the region’s economy moving forward.

President Stephen M. Curtis says the college meets workforce demands by creating a range of f lexible learning solutions for corporations, small businesses and individuals. Accelerated career pathways and academic certificate programs allow the unemployed and underemployed workers to divide long-term educational goals into small, manageable steps, Curtis says.

“We recently graduated our largest class ever,” he says. “Approximately 1,908 students earned associate degrees or academic certificates in May 2012. More than 78 percent of our students remain in the region, contributing to the pipeline of skilled workers.”

Those graduates are part of the more than 60 percent of all alumni throughout the region who stay in Greater Philadelphia for a year or more after graduating, according to a 2010 study by Campus Philly, a nonprofit organization that promotes economic growth by encouraging college students to study, live and work in the region.

higher education, big imPactCombined, the institutions in the region are

an economic force, contributing some $15 billion annually to the region’s GDP, generating approximately $500 billion in capital investment and employing more than 70,000 people. Four of the region’s top 50 employers are higher education institutions, including the No. 2 overall employer, the University of Pennsylvania, which employs 16,000 workers.

“Colleges and universities have the spending power of a major industry,” says John Fry, Drexel University president.

For example, in 2010 combined spending by students and higher education institutions in the region totaled $16.3 billion, and that didn’t include construction spending.

According to Fry, Drexel has made a strategic commitment to become an even greater engine for economic development.

“We can do that through our translational research enterprise, which moves basic science into commercially viable technologies that spin off companies and jobs,” Fry says.

A collaborative approach among colleges and universities can be seen in initiatives such as the Regional College and University Presidents Council, a program of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Council members meet regularly to share ideas and discuss issues facing the more than 100 higher education institutions in the region.

“The council seeks to explore cooperative opportunities and develop meaningful relationships with the business sector that can enhance the region,” says Villanova’s Rev. Donohue, co-chair of the council.

left: The university of Pennsylvania has full-time enrollment of more than 21,400 students and more than 4,300 faculty members. above: Princeton university, which was established in 1746, is a major center of research.

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Powerful medicinehospitals deliver shot in the arm to regional economy

greater Philadelphia’s health-care future is as impressive as its past. The region that

built the nation’s first public hospital now offers cutting-edge medical centers and life-science collaborations.

Home to 197 hospitals, more than 15 major health systems, four children’s hospitals and six medical schools, the region is in the heart of one of the largest life-sciences clusters in the world. The region leverages a gamut of health-care-related research assets with the presence of major teaching hospitals, and it is a national leader as a location for clinical trials.

“The Greater Philadelphia region is really is a hotbed for health care,” says Richard Miller, president of the four-hospital Virtua system, headquartered in Marlton, N.J “We’re able to take what I consider to be the best and brightest in the field to collaborate for patient care.”

In addition to its southern New Jersey hospitals and outpatient facilities, Virtua also operates state-of-the-art health and wellness centers in Voorhees, Washington Township and Moorestown.

Also in southern New Jersey, Lourdes Health System operates medical centers in Camden and Willingboro. Lourdes recently entered into a joint venture with

nurses prepare a room in the intensive Care unit at lankenau Medical Center, which is part of Main line Health System and is located in Montgomery County, Pa..

Story by Melanie Kilgore-HillPhotography by Todd Bennett


Centennial Surgery Center, a nationally ranked, physician-owned outpatient facility in Voorhees.

“The Greater Philadelphia region has always been a breeding ground for philanthropy through collaborations, partnerships and business startups,” says Alexander Hatala, president and CEO of LHS. “We have a vibrant community because we’ve been able to foster a sense of regional collaboration that puts growth and success first.”

In Camden, N.J., Cooper University Health Care is the clinical campus of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and includes more than 700 physicians in 75 specialty areas. It also operates Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper’s, which provides pediatric services f or infants, children and adolescents.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Eastern Regional Medical Center is a state-of-the-art cancer hospital that opened in Philadelphia in 2005. Since that time, CTCA has offered integrated, patient-centered care to more than 5,000 patients.

Holy Redeemer Health System offers a wide range of health-care and health-related services including an acute-care hospital, home care and hospice services and two skilled nursing facilities.

The University of Delaware, University of Pennsylvania, Coriell Institute for Medical Research and The Wistar Institute are just a few of the names sharing research and practices, and many hospitals receive national recognition.

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania received 13 national specialty rankings, while Thomas Jefferson University Hospital received 11 national specialty rankings on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals list.

In addition, Truven Health Analytics ranked Penn Presbyterian Medical Center one of the nation’s top major teaching hospitals.

Headquartered in Wilmington, Del., Christiana Care Health System is one of the country’s largest health-care providers, ranking 17th in the nation for

hospital admissions. A major teaching hospital with two campuses, Christiana Care is recognized as a regional center for excellence in cardiology, cancer and women’s health services.

Also in Delaware, the internationally known Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington is part of the Nemours health system, which also operates a children’s hospital in Florida and pediatric specialty clinics in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Health care is an economic force in the region. Fourteen of the region’s top 50 employers are health-care and hospital systems, each employing at least 5,000 people. More than 181,000 people in the Philadelphia and Trenton metropolitan areas were in health-care practitioner occupations in 2010, making up 6.4 percent of the workforce.

Greater Philadelphia and Boston are the only two metro areas among the 15 largest in the United States where the Education and Health Services sector accounts for the highest percentage of total employment.

Main Line Health is a top 10 regional employer. Its network of facilities includes four acute-care hospitals – Bryn Mawr Hospital, Lankenau Medical Center, Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital – along with Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital. A part of the Jefferson Health System, Main Line Health was named among the 15 Top Health Systems in the nation by Truven Health Analytics in 2012. Combined, Jefferson Health and Main Line Health employ nearly 30,000 people.

“Our pledge is to consistently deliver to patients what we would want for ourselves and members of our own families,” says Jack Lynch, Main Line Health president and CEO. “Our mission is to provide a superior patient experience to every patient, every time, always ensuring the highest standards in safety, quality and efficiency.”


Kids enjoy Quality carechildren’s hospiTal a leader in pediaTric care

when it comes to pediatric care, there’s nowhere better than The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. U.S. News & World Report ranked CHoP no. 1 in six of 10 specialties for 2012-2013 – more no. 1 rankings than any other children’s hospital in the nation. CHoP also tied for the no. 1 overall ranking.

“no matter how many times we achieve the top ranking in this survey, it is always an exhilarating, inspiring and humbling experience – and a reminder of our responsibility to constantly improve health care for children,” says dr. Steven M. altschuler, Ceo of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “i could not be prouder of our employees and the extraordinary care they provide to our patients every day. i am honored to work alongside them.”

The nation’s first children’s hospital has come a long way since 1855. The 430-bed hospital has more than 1 million outpatient and inpatient visits annually and is a pioneer in the area of children’s health research and treatment.

CHoP also includes The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia research institute, one of the largest pediatric research programs in the country with more than $100 million in total federal awards and an annual budget of more than $200 million.

also located on site, the Children’s Seashore House is a comprehensive pediatric rehabilitation center for kids with developmental disabilities and chronic diseases. The hospital has built a pediatric health-care network with nearly 50 sites that treat children throughout Pennsylvania and new Jersey and is one of the largest in the nation.

– Melanie Kilgore-Hill


lab leaderregion’s life-sciences cluster breeds breakthroughs

Story by Melanie Kilgore-Hill

From biotechs to big pharma, life sciences are right at home in Greater Philadelphia. In fact, the Milken Institute recently ranked Greater

Philadelphia as the second most successful region at sustaining life-sciences industry value.

Core life-science companies employ 39,400 people in the region and another 35,500 workers when related health-care jobs are considered. The industry’s biggest players – AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis, TEVA Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer among them – all have major facilities in the region, as do device manufacturers and medical technology firms, including Siemens Medical Solutions and Synthes.

More than 15 percent of all economic activity and one in six jobs in the region are attributable to life sciences, according to the Milken Institute study.

Pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline is showing its commitment to the region by relocating to the Navy Yard Corporate Center in Philadelphia in 2013.The company’s 205,000-square-foot, four-story facility represents a 15-year, $81 million investment

in southeast Pennsylvania. The region also is home to Teva USA, a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals.

The nexus of life-sciences companies in the region has drawn investment and jobs from companies that support the industry.

In Mavern, Pa., British-based Phlexglobal has expanded its operations following a sharp increase in customer demand. The company provides technology-enabled TMF document management solutions and clinical research support services geared to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, contract research organization and health-care industries.

What started as an 18-person operation has now grown to more than 60 workers in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Delaware County, Pa., is home base for Endo Health Solutions Inc., a diversified health-care company that includes branded and generic pharmaceutical operations, medical devices and health technology focused in such areas as pain management, pelvic health, urology, endocrinology and oncology.

shire usA came to Chester County, Pa., in 2004 and has a workforce of 1,500.


neW Players, neW develoPmentsIndustry giants aren’t the only pharmaceuticals

coming to the region. Shire USA arrived in Greater Philadelphia in 2004 and has grown to nearly 1,500 full-time employees and contractors. The company occupies 425,000 square feet in the Chesterbrook Corporate Center in Chester County, Pa.

“Shire’s expansion in Greater Philadelphia has been an extraordinary success,” says Caroline West, Shire’s senior vice president and chief compliance and risk officer. “There are very few places you can staff a pharmaceutical company in a year. It’s something that has helped smaller companies like Shire. You’ve got history here.”

rich in resourcesThe combination of research, education and

private enterprise creates a world of possibilities for life-science entrepreneurs, who gain access to venture capitalist, wet lab and incubator space, and technical and professional expertise.

The University of Delaware is taking a lead role, with development of its Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus taking shape in Newark. With phase one slated for opening in 2014, STAR’s 272-acre site will create the perfect infrastructure to blend patient care, student training, academic research and private partnerships. Administrators hope the campus will become a 24/7 residential and commercial life-sciences community over the next decade.

“We have more than 100,000 square feet for companies to come in, and we’re interested in hearing from any businesses interested in partnering with us,” says Kathleen Matt, Ph.D., dean of UD’s College of Health Sciences. And UD isn’t alone. More than half of the region’s 100 colleges and universities offer life-sciences-related opportunities.

In 2012, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed historic legislation that established Rowan University as a research institution and called for the university to enter into partnerships with both Rutgers-Camden and the School of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Stratford.

Rowan and Rutgers-Camden will collaborate to establish a new College of Health Sciences in Camden, N.J. The university will become the nation’s second institution to have both an M.D.-granting medical school and an osteopathic medical school.

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University welcomed its charter class in 2012 to become the first new medical school in New Jersey in over 35 years.

“This partnership will create a major economic engine,” says Jim Newell, Ph.D., interim provost at Rowan University. “We’ll be able to leverage our expertise to create new programs and build a critical mass of people with medical expertise here at home. As you improve your tax base, you also improve the health-care systems for the entire region, because we’ll have more professionals with a commitment to people here than we’ve ever had before.”

above: The university of delaware will open phase one of its STar Campus in 2014. below: rendering of GlaxoSmithkline’s interior

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the intersection of technology and innovation The nexT big Thing is Taking shape aT universiTy ciTy science cenTer

For the past half-century, Philadelphia’s university City Science Center has paved the way in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology commercialization in the life sciences and emerging technologies.

The oldest and largest urban research park in the united States, the complex includes more than 2 million square feet of office and lab space, and access to investors and business-building advice. Graduate organizations and current residents of university City’s Port business incubators currently account for more than 15,000 jobs and contribute more than $9 billion to the region’s Gross domestic Product.

“our outlook is regional by nature and design,” says Stephen Tang,

president of the Science Center. “we also excel at making connections. as a keystone in the region, we bridge social distances and connect disparate parties together with the goal of sparking connections that can lead to increased innovation, company formation and ultimately job creation.”

Well connectedShareholders include 31 of the

leading academic and research institutions in Pennsylvania, new Jersey and delaware, while the center’s Scientific advisory Committee includes senior research administrators from academic, health care, research institutions, and leading local companies in the life sciences and other industry sectors.

in 2012, university City broke ground on an 11-story tower that will house Penn Presbyterian Medical Center’s Center for Specialty Care. The remaining 88,000 square feet in the development will help university City support tech-based innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development in the region.

“not only does this expansion strengthen university City’s unparalleled reputation as a higher education and health-care hub, but the innovative treatments and techniques pioneered at Penn Presbyterian are a natural fit for the culture of innovation that we’re developing at the Science Center,” Tang says.

– Melanie Kilgore-Hill

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university City science Center in Philadelphia



communications technology firms find greater philadelphia offers the ideal environment for growth

i n Greater Philadelphia, knowledge is power, jobs, economic development and bragging rights.

With one of the largest concentrations of information and communications technology workers in the country, the region has more than 6,100 IT-producing businesses. Major employers of IT professionals include industry giants such as Verizon, Unisys, L-3, Lockheed Martin, Comcast, SAP, Vanguard and SEI.

In 2011, 146,900 jobs in the Greater Philadelphia area were in IT occupations, which made up 5.2 percent of the region’s total. IT producing companies accounted for $39.1 billion of Greater Philadelphia’s

output in 2011, accounting for 5.4 percent of the total for the region.

And new ICT startups are taking root, while video game development, digital media, health-care information technology and mobile applications are fast-growing subsectors.

household namesAnd the region’s talent pool is huge. That

concentration of highly skilled workers and ICT businesses makes Greater Philadelphia a fertile recruiting territory for big names with strong regional footprints.

high in Fiber

Story by Pamela Coyle • Photography by Todd Bennett

Comcast, which is based in Philadelphia, is a global leader in communications, technology and media.

Technology


“It creates opportunities to keep many of the young professionals in the workforce in the region rather than moving to other areas,” says Tim Smith, Verizon region president of consumer and mass business for Pennsylvania/Delaware. “Ours is a dynamic and ever-changing industry, and one that would be attractive to young professionals who can bring energy and new perspectives to the business. Competition for this type of talent can be intense.”

In recent years Verizon has relocated hundreds of jobs from its New York base to Philadelphia, and Smith cites the region’s strategic East Coast location, multiple educational institutions and entrepreneurial spirit as key factors. In 2011 alone, Verizon invested more than $512 million in its wireline communications network and IT infrastructure throughout Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia is home to Comcast’s corporate headquarters, with 3,300 employees at One Comcast Center in the city’s downtown area. The acquisition in 2011 of NBC Universal cemented Comcast’s reputation as a global leader at the intersection of communication, technology and media.

“We have never looked to move,” says D’Arcy Rudnay, Comcast’s chief communications officer. “It is a great place to work. The support services for transportation, the universities and colleges all are great. We are very well positioned between Washington, D.C. and New York with quick access to important partners.”

Twice in 10 years, big companies that Comcast planned to acquire put relocation on the table – AT&T Broadband a decade ago and NBC Universal in 2011. Both times Comcast’s corporate leadership said no way.

“Our corporate history is here, our corporate center is here and our families are here,” Rudnay says.

creating cool comPaniesBig industry players and a supportive

entrepreneurial culture pave the way for new information technology companies in Greater Philadelphia. First State Innovation, a private initiative that began in 2006, boosts Delaware’s entrepreneurial capacity with information technology businesses as a key focus area. The group screens applicants, provides feedback, sets up presentation events and arranges introductions to angel investors.

Launched companies in the ICT field include Nayatek in Newark, Del., which specializes in the security, management and archiving of electronically stored information – which these days spans just about everything a company does. Business and regulatory demands require information storage, and Nayatek consolidates the information itself and makes search, retrieval and storage more manageable.

Another FSI-launched company, Information Assurance Corp. in Wilmington, created a digital alternative to the paper-based notary seal process.

above: The Comcast Center is located in downtown Philadelphia. below: Students work on video game development projects at the rePlay lab at drexel university in Philadelphia.


start PowervenTure capiTal, incubaTors, universiTies give enTrepreneurs resources To grow

Josh kopelman moved the headquarters of First round Capital, an early stage venture capital firm, to new offices in university City from suburban Conshohocken in 2012.

Two local startups in the company’s portfolio, Curalate and uber, moved with First round, a national firm with offices in San Francisco and new york.

Greater Philadelphia is a serious place for entrepreneurs. organizations such as PhillyStartupleaders, Ben Franklin Technology Partners and First State innovation in delaware, plus incubators and universities, provide expertise and connections to everything from business plan formation to capital investment.

“we’ve begun to see more really exciting companies get their start in Philadelphia,” kopelman said when he announced the move.

PSl sponsors Founder Factory –

an annual event that brings together entrepreneurs, angels, mentors, vCs, students, schools and government groups – and entrepreneurial expo.

Philly Tech week features dozens of events and drew more than 4,000 people in 2012. The 2013 extravaganza is from april 20-27.

dreamit ventures is a Philadelphia startup accelerator that provides companies with up to $25,000 in seed capital, office space, coaching and donated professional services, and access to venture capital. dreamit also has accelerators in new york, austin and israel; in april 2012, Forbes ranked it the no. 3 top u.S. tech incubator.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania assists tech companies through a number of capital, expertise and network initiatives that help innovative companies compete in the global

marketplace. The organization has invested more than $165 million in some 1,750 regional enterprises, across all areas of technology.

Gabe weinberg, founder and Ceo of duckduckGo, a search engine that gives users a high-quality experience with less clutter, more privacy and better search results, knew no one when he located the company in Paoli, in Chester County, Pa.

“when i first moved here there was no central community organization at the ground level of entrepreneurs or angel investors getting together,” weinberg says. “Community organizations really have sprung up and the level of connection increased from 10 to 100. My goal is to get more companies like mine started here and staying here.”

– Pamela Coyle


game onThe region’s reputation as a center of excellence

in video game development is growing, too. Both the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University in Philadelphia offer top-tier degree programs for educational, instructional and other related game development.

A trio of Drexel computer science graduates won a world championship in 2012 in the Microsoft Imagine Cup technology design competition. The team’s Math Dash game was the winner among entries from 106 teams from 75 countries. The team captured the design mobile category with a smartphone application that turns learning math concepts into a fun game.

At Drexel, students can earn bachelor’s degrees in game art and production or game programming and development; it also offers a master’s degree in digital media. Penn has a master’s level program, too. Philadelphia Game Lab provides affordable space for game development teams and a destination point for publishers, investors and related businesses. The organization hosted the Grassroots Game Conference in April 2012.

Technology companies small and large will find the 11-county region has important assets, Rudnay notes. “The quality of life is really pleasant,” she says. “When we relocate people, and they get here and experience the city, the suburbs, the schools, the transportation, they grow to love it.”

Students work in the Motion Capture studio, which is part of the rePlay lab at drexel university in Philadelphia.

www.phl.org


Transportation

integrated air, rail, port, road assets link the region to the world

W ith major port facilities, one of the nation’s largest international airports, Class I rail carriers and access to interstate highways

serving major East Coast and Midwest markets, Greater Philadelphia is a logistics leader.

Walmart, TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory and Sysco Food Systems are among the roster of major companies that work with warehouse and distribution operations in the region. The transportation and logistics segment is a major component of the regional economy, employing more than 180,000 people.

The region’s integrated transportation infrastructure is a key advantage for doing business in Greater Philadelphia. The region is connected to major markets via interstates that run along both east/west and north/south corridors – including the vital I-95. Trucking firms that choose Greater Philadelphia know that more than 40 percent of the nation’s population is within a day’s drive.

Ports oF imPortancePort facilities along the Delaware River operated

by the Diamond State Port Corp., South Jersey Ports Corp. and the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority offer cost efficient ways to receive raw materials and ship product to overseas markets.

Diamond State Port Corp. operates the Port of Wilmington, which handles about 400 vessels and 5 million tons of cargo each year. Wilmington, the Delaware River’s busiest terminal, is the top North American port for fresh fruit and fruit concentrates.

strong connections

Story by Kevin Litwin

The deep-water Port of wilmington, del., handles about 400 vessels and 5 million tons of cargo annually.


South Jersey Port Corp. oversees the ports of Camden, Salem and Paulsboro, the latter of which is now undergoing a major renovation that will relieve congestion from the heavily used Camden site.

The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority is building a new Southport terminal and a Southport West terminal, both of which will open in 2014-2015. There is also a five-year channel-deepening project taking place on the Delaware River at Philadelphia, allowing for bigger ships and more capacity.

“Our channel is being deepened from 40 feet to 45 feet, which will allow bigger ships to access our city,” says Joe Menta, director of communications for the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority. “That’s especially big news because the Panama Canal is also being deepened, so bigger ships from around the

world can eventually pass through Panama and head up the Atlantic Coast, with Philadelphia’s deeper channel able to accommodate them.”

Menta says maritime industries and shippers like to see a port move forward, and Philadelphia is doing exactly that.

“We keep growing our business, with Hyundai and Kia recently deciding to ship automobiles to the U.S. through Philadelphia,” he says. “Even though they are foreign vehicles, they mean more jobs for Americans. Longshoremen from Philadelphia, Delaware and New Jersey come to the docks to unload the cars, then Teamsters prep the cars for eventual delivery to dealerships, and American drivers truck the vehicles to their dealership destinations.”

workers unload steel coil and plywood from ships at the South Jersey Port Corp. (SJPC) in Camden. The SJPC is the no. 1 port handler of imported wood products into the united States.

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rail and air advantagesClass I rail carriers Canadian Pacific, CSX, and

Norfolk Southern serve the region and provide direct service to the Port of Philadelphia. The region also has one of the largest and most extensive public transit and commuter rail systems in the nation.

One of the country’s largest airports is Philadelphia International Airport, which not only moves nearly 30 million passengers each year but is a major freight handler that hauls 425 million tons of cargo annually.

That includes the UPS hub at Philadelphia International Airport, which is the package carrier’s second-largest hub, and UPS employs nearly 6,000 workers in the region while FedEx employs 5,900. The airport is undergoing a multiyear $5 billion capital improvements campaign that will include adding even more cargo facilities. Since 2000, the airport has undergone more than $1 billion in capital improvements including the opening of two new terminals. Due to the recent updates, the airport’s terminal complex comprises 3.1 million square feet and there are now 126 boarding gates to accommodate passengers.

Another option for area business travelers is New Castle Airport, which is five miles south of Wilmington and only a 25-minute drive from Philadelphia. New Castle accommodates corporate jets along with individual owners of aircraft.

The Philadelphia regional Port authority is at work deepening channel depths at its ports to allow them to serve larger vessels.

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region is awash with opportunities to commune with nature

g reater Philadelphia is truly beautiful on the outside. The region overflows with

outdoor recreation opportunities, from waterways to trails to forests and fishing that offer ample wide open spaces in the heart of one of the nation’s most populous regions.

One of the most popular outdoor destinations is the Fairmount parks system, which features 63 individual parks sprinkled throughout Philadelphia. Parks range in size from one acre to the 1,800-acre Wissahickon Valley Park.

“You could be standing amid the beauty of Wissahickon Valley Park and have no idea that you’re actually standing in the fifth-

largest city in the United States,” says Barry Bessler, chief of staff with the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, which oversees the Fairmount parks system. “There are multiple cultural, recreational and athletic options when visiting Fairmount venues, including walking, jogging, fishing, softball, picnics, visiting historic houses, and charity walks.”

Prevention magazine has named Philadelphia one of the Top 10 Walking Cities in the U.S., noting that the Center City district has the largest comprehensive pedestrian sign system in North America. And Bicycling magazine has weighed in, naming

Philadelphia as one of the Top 20 Bicycling Cities in America.

PeaceFul PlacesAmong the region’s 11 national

parks, green space, forest retreats and waterways is the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. A haven for boaters, runners, hikers, campers and picnickers, the 165-mile trail of rivers and canals connects northern Pennsylvania to the Delaware Canal in Bucks County.

The region is also on the doorstep of the 1.1 million-acre Pinelands National Reserve in New Jersey, which offers serene rivers, picturesque parks and rare

big as all outdoors

Story by Kevin Litwin

Livability


the 24-acre Penn Park has tennis courts, playing fields, jogging trails, a softball stadium, picnic area and other amenities. ph oto C ou r t E sy of g . Widm an for g p t mC.



clockwise from top: Citizens Bank Park, where the Philadelphia Phillies play, includes 43,500 seats and offers a view of the Philadelphia skyline; Grounds for Sculpture is a 35-acre sculpture park and museum in Mercer County, n.J.; every Friday night, the Philadelphia Museum of art features art after 5, which includes bands and performance groups, as well as cocktails, food and renowned art.

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cultured Pearlsregion’s diverse and lively arTs offerings add To iTs qualiTy-of-life lusTer

independence Hall and valley Forge are iconic tourism attractions, but Greater Philadelphia offers much more beyond its rich history.

it is also a vibrant cosmopolitan area and a capital of arts and culture, with that sector contributing vastly to the regional economy. a recent Pew Charitable Trusts study states that arts and culture provide approximately 19,000 jobs and more than $500 million in annual income. in addition, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural alliance says there are more than 210 arts and culture organizations in the region with annual budgets exceeding $1 million, including 33 with budgets of more than $10 million.

“Greater Philadelphia was just named the no. 1 cultural city in north america by readers of Travel & Leisure,” says Tom kaiden, who serves as president of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural alliance. “This region is a blend of hip and historic, with a vibrant, current cultural scene here on the eastern seaboard.”

The region has world-class art galleries and museums such as the Philadelphia Museum of art, rodin Museum, Barnes Foundation and delaware art Museum in wilmington, while Philadelphia’s Mural arts program is the largest public arts program in the nation. a number of specialized museums also enrich the region’s cultural experience, including the national Museum of american Jewish History.

For cultural assets, there is the Pennsylvania Ballet, Pennsylvania dance Company, opera Company of Philadelphia, opera delaware, the Philadelphia orchestra, and symphony orchestras located in Trenton and wilmington. Hands-on learning experiences for children and families can be found at a variety of area attractions such as the american Helicopter Museum, Fairmount water works interpretive Center, delaware Children’s Museum, delaware Museum of natural History, Franklin institute and Camden’s adventure aquarium.

business helPing artThe region’s 100 colleges and

universities also contribute significantly to cultural offerings, while the arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia helps connect businesses with struggling arts and cultural organizations.

“For example, the Center for art in wood was going belly-up until we placed an experienced businesswoman in there to do their strategic planning, and now the center is successful in a new space after raising $1 million,” says karin Copeland, executive director with the arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia. “we also paired another businesswoman to consult with Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, and she helped inspire and redefine the entire organization. nonprofit arts and cultural organizations know about creativity but sometimes are lax in business, legal or technology experience, and that’s where the arts & Business Council can help them.”

– Kevin Litwin


plants and animals. The Greater Philadelphia region also features a number of world-renowned gardens including more than 3,500 acres of gardens along with a small collection of historic mansions in the Wilmington area.

on the riverFrontWilmington has made the water

a key focus of its development efforts. Its Riverfront district includes the new 200,000-square-foot Chase Center convention facility that recently opened, plus a Westin Hotel and a 14-screen IMAX theater that will debut in 2013. Officials estimate that 700,000 people will visit the Riverfront district annually once the movie complex opens.

“Unlike so many cities that have tried to reclaim their former downtown industrial regions, Wilmington has succeeded,” says

Mike Purzycki, executive director of the Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware. “Today, 5,000 people work in the district, 1,200 people are living here, there are 10 restaurants, a two-mile riverwalk, a park, children’s museum, wildlife refuge, baseball stadium and river taxi. The Riverfront now returns more than $30 million annually to the economy in taxes.”

Purzycki says 2 million square feet of construction has occurred along the Riverfront over the past decade at an investment of nearly $1 billion.

“The Riverfront has become a destination thanks to its outdoor attractions and many indoor amenities,” he says. “It is a true recreational and entertainment district for residents and visitors to the northern part of Delaware.”

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downtown wilmington is a center of arts, culture and entertainment as well as a center of commerce.


visit ouradvertisersBurlington County Bridge Commission www.bcbridges.org

City of Philadelphia www.phila.gov

Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center www.dvirc.org

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission www.dvrpc.org

Gloucester County Department of Economic Development www.co.gloucester.nj.us

Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. www.visitphilly.com

Mercer County Office of Economic Development and Sustainability www.mercercounty.org

PECO, an Exelon Company www.peco.com

Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau www.philadelphiausa.travel

Philadelphia International Airport www.phl.org

South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University www.sjtechpark.org

University City District www.universitycity.org

University of Delaware www.udel.edu/star

Whitesell Construction Co. Inc. www.whitesellco.com

www.whitesellco.com

www.liveunited.org

select greater PhiladelPhiaSelect Greater Philadelphia is is an economic development marketing organization dedicated to attracting companies in the 11-county, three-state Greater Philadelphia region. For more on Select Greater Philadelphia, go to www.selectgreaterphiladelphia.com.

economic ProFile

What’s online for more information about the greater greater philadelphia region, go to businessclimate.com/philadelphia.

PoPulation

region: 6.28 millionBucks County Pa: 626,854Burlington County nJ: 449,576 Camden County nJ: 513,241Chester County Pa: 503,897delaware County Pa: 559,494Gloucester County nJ: 289,104Mercer County nJ: 367,063Montgomery County Pa: 804,210Philadelphia County Pa: 1,536,471new Castle County de: 541,971Salem County nJ: 65,902

major emPloyers/location county

Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia: 19,100

university of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia: 16,160

university of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia: 14,941

Merck & Co. inc., Montgomery: 12,000

walmart, multiple locations: 11,445

Catholic Health east, multiple locations: 11,339

uPS, Philadelphia: 10,261

Comcast Corp. (includes Spectacor), Philadelphia: 10,200

Main line Health, Montgomery: 10,100

aramark Corp., Philadelphia: 10,026

Bank of america Corp., multiple locations: 10,000

Christiana Care Health System, new Castle: 10,000

Supervalu inc. (acme), multiple locations: 10,000

major industry sectors (by Percentage oF total emPloyment)

education & Health Services: 21.0%Trade, Transportation & utilities: 18.2%

Professional & Business Services: 15.9%

Government: 13.2%

leisure & Hospitality: 8.2%

Financial activities: 7.5%

Manufacturing: 6.4%

Services: 4.5%

Construction, natural resources & Mining: 3.2%

information: 1.9%

labor Force

2011: 3.18 million

Per caPita Personal income

2012: $50,900

Personal income Per household

2012: $135,000

educational attainment

Bachelor’s degree: 32.9%Graduate/professional degree: 13% adult population, age 25+

housing marKet (1Q 2012)

Median Home Price: $175,081

cost oF living comParison

u.S. average = 10012 largest u.S. Metros:new york-northern new Jersey-long island: 153.7los angeles-long Beach-Santa ana: 134 Chicago-naperville-Joliet, il-in-wi: 114.4dallas-Fort worth: 121.4Greater Philadelphia: 121.4Houston-Baytown: 90.7Miami-Fort lauderdale: 109.0washington dC-alexandria va: 144.2atlanta: 98.8Boston-Cambridge-quincy: 137.2detroit-warren-livonia: 95.4Phoenix-Scottsdale-Mesa: 94.5Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, 3Q 2011

transPortation

airports:Philadelphia internationalnew Castle airport

Highways: The Greater Philadelphia region is connected by interstate highways to points north and south (via i-95, i-295, the new Jersey and delaware turnpikes) and east and west (i-76/Pennsylvania Turnpike with proximity to i-78 and i-80). Major highways include route 1 north and South, i-476 north, route 70 east, atlantic City expressway South and route 202.


PECO Rises to the Challenge

Data Centers Choose from Variety of Sites, Support Services

S p e c i a l A d v e r t i s i n g S e c t i o n

When it comes to Greater Philadelphia, economic development and PECO go hand in hand. Since the 1950s, the electric distribution utility has worked with local and state economic development partners to retain and attract business for Greater Philadelphia.

Now, PECO is looking to the future as it focuses on data centers as a growth industry for southeastern Pennsylvania.

“The need for data is expanding at a tremendous rate, so all companies are looking at how to grow their data center capabilities,” says Phil Eastman, PECO’s manager of Economic Development.

This is particularly true in what Eastman calls the “eds and meds” industries: education, health care and life sciences, the very sectors that are strongest in Greater Philadelphia.

He says that data centers are a boon for economic development because they bring significant capital investment to an area. They also carry a major electrical load, which means that issues like the capacity and stability of electric service are top priority – and PECO, of course, is ideally positioned to speak to those concerns.

PECO has been building its data center initiative gradually and deliberately, taking proactive steps to understand the industry’s needs.

“We started by talking with important players in the data center sector who really understand the industry,” Eastman

says. “The feedback we received was that we have an untapped market here, so we decided to dive deeper.”

Studying the Options

PECO then commissioned a study from Dallas, Texas- based Site Selection Group to get a comprehensive view of Greater Philadelphia’s strengths and weaknesses as a data center location.

The study found that Greater Philadelphia is ideal for companies seeking to locate data centers in the northeast. The region is also ideally suited to local companies that want to keep their data centers nearby.

“A perfect example is our educational institutions that have growing data needs. They could locate a data center anywhere, but if it’s just down the street, they have very easy access to the facility,” Eastman says.

Early reaction to PECO’s data center initiative has been overwhelmingly positive.

“When we attend industry meetings, data center owners and service providers tell us that they can see how serious we are about helping data centers,” Eastman says. “They tell us that helping these projects to move forward is a powerful thing.”

Greater Philadelphia Draws Data CentersPower and People Make Greater Philadelphia the Next Big Data Center Locale

P E C O R i s e s t o t h e C h a l l e n g e


When it comes to moving data center projects forward, power and fiber are the top priorities for most data center planners. According to the SSG study, those also happen to be the two areas where Greater Philadelphia is strongest.

“This region is phenomenal from a capabilities perspective: capacity, reliability and cost,” says Joseph Pedano, senior vice president of Cloud Engineering for cloud services provider Evolve IP. “And connectivity is abundant in this area. Philadelphia is a huge data corridor, so a lot of fiber runs through here.”

Tom Reusche, executive vice president at Bala Consulting Engineers Inc., agrees. Bala specializes in technologically complex projects, including data centers, and Reusche says his clients can always find the capacity and connectivity they need in Greater Philadelphia.

Another asset: the area’s relatively low power costs. Additionally, Southeastern Pennsylvania is part of the PJM Interconnection, which covers 13 states in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. It operates a competitive wholesale electricity market and manages the high-voltage electricity grid to ensure reliability for more than 60 million people. PJM understands customers’ needs and is constantly improving and upgrading its infrastructure to ensure that it is the most reliable grid in the United States.

Peerless Grid Stability

But Greater Philadelphia really stands out when it comes to grid stability.

Pedano says the region is not overbuilt, so brownouts and other capacity-related power interruptions are a non-issue. He also points to the area’s sheltered position as an advantage.

“When you look at weather like tornadoes, f loods, coastal storms – all the things you consider from a 100-year disaster perspective – Philadelphia doesn’t have many of those,” he says. “That means less risk to the transmission grid.”

But even on the rare occasion when the region falls victim to a natural disaster, the grid tends to hold. Reusche says that during 2012’s superstorm Sandy, many of the area’s major data centers stayed online with primary power intact.

“That is evidence of the robust and redundant infrastructure that PECO maintains for their customers,” he says.

Having underground utilities in Greater Philadelphia’s urban areas also contributes to grid stability, Reusche says. It means electric distribution is less vulnerable to what he calls “accidental interruptions” such as power cuts caused by minor storms or pole damage.

He also credits PECO’s conscientious line maintenance. In fact, he has clients who have gone many years without power interruptions.

“PECO’s proactive approach to keeping power available is definitely a great benefit to their data center customers,” Reusche says.

Availability of Power and Fiber

This special section is published for PECO, by Journal Communications Inc.

For more information, contact: PECO

2301 Market St. S24-2 • Philadelphia, PA 19103 Phone: (215) 841-5640 • Fax: (215) 841-5309

Email: [email protected] • www.peco.com

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After power and connectivity, staffing is often the next priority for data center operators. And since data centers frequently serve a mission-critical function and operate with small staffs, finding just the right personnel is crucial. That’s a challenge easily met in Greater Philadelphia.

For starters, new tech professionals are coming on the scene every year. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the 2010-2011 school year saw more than 5,500 Greater Philadelphia students earn degrees or certificates in computer and information sciences and engineering. These students graduated from top universities like the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Villanova University, Drexel University and Widener University, as well as from a network of quality career and technical colleges.

“That variety of degrees from different kinds of schools gives data centers a chance to pick from a range of talent,” says Phil Hopkins, vice president and director of research for economic development agency Select Greater Philadelphia.

Many of these schools also have internship programs or other industry partnerships that help students gain real-world experience. Drexel University, for example, operates one of the world’s oldest and largest co-op programs.

Working from Experience

But new graduates aren’t the only data center prospects in Greater Philadelphia. The region also has a large pool of seasoned tech workers. According to U.S. Department of Labor 2011 statistics, 5.2 percent of Greater Philadelphia’s workforce (more than 146,000 workers) are experienced computer programmers, electrical engineers or systems analysts.

Those numbers don’t surprise Jim Lepera and Gretchen Spigelmyer, account executives with IT services company TekSystems. They point to the region’s heavy concentration of data-oriented Fortune 500 companies: household-name giants like Merck, Cigna and Dow Jones.

“These companies have been here for a long time and have created a high demand for tech workers, so this market has the ability and expertise already in place,” Spigelmyer says. “A lot of companies have their IT headquarters here, and that just naturally trains the workers.”

And firms like TekSystems make the staffing process even easier. The company can help with both long-term and project-based IT staffing needs.

According to Lepera, attracting and retaining IT professionals in Greater Philadelphia is made even easier by the region’s general appeal. Workers appreciate the proximity to New York City and Washington, D.C., the family-friendly environment and the relatively low cost of living.

Both Lepera and Spigelmyer have noticed that today’s data centers need employees who are more than just technically proficient. Business, communication and problem-solving

skills are also important. That’s not a problem in Greater Philadelphia, they say.

“Data centers are looking for a higher-end skill set now, and we have that here,” Lepera says.

Data Center StaffingP E C O R i s e s t o t h e C h a l l e n g e


It’s not just outstanding staff who keep Greater Philadelphia’s data centers up and running. Support services and personnel also play a crucial role in data center success.

In Greater Philadelphia, the support starts before a data center even opens its doors, thanks to the presence of commercial real estate firms like CBRE Group Inc. and Colliers International, which together represent the three largest data center properties in center-city Philadelphia. CBRE Broker George Cauffman, who helps data centers and other critical environments find sites, says Greater Philadelphia’s relatively low costs give it an edge over other East Coast metroplexes. The region also has about 1.2 million square feet of available commercial data center space, including a range of co-location, wholesale and enterprise options.

For companies that prefer to outsource their data centers, Cauffman says Greater Philadelphia has many firms that provide data center space and support services in one convenient package. He cites large firms like DBSi (profile, page 7), SunGard and Digital Realty Trust along with local ventures like the Philadelphia Navy Yard’s Philadelphia Technology Park.

“All these different groups offer different packages, so there’s an option for almost everyone,” Cauffman says.

Contractors on CallFor companies that prefer to operate their own data

centers, Greater Philadelphia’s large pool of IT professionals makes it easy to find the right service contractors. Business management software company SAP has its headquarters for the Americas in Newtown, Pa. The company has also operated a data center on the same campus since 1999.

“If you put a data center out in the middle of Utah, you have to import your help, even for routine maintenance,” says Jim Armstrong, SAP’s data center manager. “Here, having someone on site in one hour is easy.”

SAP Facilities Manager Jim Dodd says such proximity, plus the fact that SAP can choose from multiple providers of the same service, make support services less expensive than in more remote areas. And since SAP’s support costs aren’t so high, it can produce competitive bids for clients.

Armstrong points out that, regardless of virtualization, every data center needs physical infrastructure – and good people to maintain it.

“The infrastructure is there, and the support is there,” Dodd says. “We’ve been able to run this data center in support of worldwide operations for more than 20 years without any major hiccups. That really says something about the location.”

Availability of Support Services



Along with these many advantages – a robust power system and abundant fiber, a skilled staffing pool and easy access to support services – come a few challenges. But PECO is equipped to lead the way in meeting those challenges.

“We believe that utilities play a key role in the development of the data center sector,” says Ed Piscopo, PECO’s regional director of economic development. “PECO is an engaged utility; we understand what’s going on in the data center sector and what the challenges are.”

One of those challenges is finding a way to incentivize data centers. The utility knows that incentives come in different forms. Other states and municipalities have been aggressive in offering real estate and tax incentives.

The utility recognizes the capital intensive nature of data center infrastructure and equipment. Incentives based on capital investment may be attractive to potential data center users. PECO, he says, plans to help data center stakeholders and communicate their priorities to decision makers.

Another challenge is helping data center prospects find sites that are, in Piscopo’s words, “shovel-ready”: sites with power, fiber, utilities and zoning approval already in place. PECO is already working on identifying such sites around the Greater Philadelphia area. The next step, Piscopo says, is reaching out to property owners and helping them to market their sites appropriately.

Progressive Partnerships

But PECO doesn’t plan to do all this alone. The utility has an existing network of partners who are eager to bring more data centers to Greater Philadelphia. And that network is broad-based, encompassing partners who intersect with all aspects of the data center industry. Consulting firm AthenianRazak, design-build firm Structure Tone, and professional organizations 7x24 Exchange and AFCOM are just a few examples.

“Any sort of economic development is a team effort,” Piscopo says. “Our local partners, customers and service providers help with ideas and execution.”

Piscopo admits that data centers make good customers for electric utilities – but they make good community partners as well. Data centers produce a steady stream of local tax revenue and provide what Piscopo calls “family-sustaining,” well paid jobs. They also bring significant capital investment and, with it, economic stability.

“Companies don’t typically invest $50 million in a facility and then leave within a couple of years,” Piscopo says. “Data centers are long-term community residents. Once they put their f lag here, they’re going to be here for a while.”

PECO’s Challenges and Partnerships



DBSi: Growth for the Long Term

One of these committed companies is in Valley Forge, Pa., where mission-critical technology services company DBSi opened a data center in 2005. The location began as a secondary data site for clients; DBSi’s customers were so pleased with the service, however, that the center became a primary data site and has more than tripled its initial workload. The company is now working on a 2013 expansion project to put down even deeper roots.

John Yanek, DBSi’s vice president of Facilities, says the center’s location has everything to do with its success.

“It’s a sweet spot, the perfect location to reach out to the typical data center client base,” he says. “There is the financial area in New Jersey, and all the health care and academics around Philadelphia.”

Since DBSi specializes in mission-critical data, the location’s safety is a major asset. Yanek points out that Greater Philadelphia rarely experiences natural disasters, and security threat levels are much lower than in nearby New York City and Washington, D.C.

Another asset is PECO.“PECO offers a reliable power platform and has been a

great partner in ensuring we can obtain the power we need to run a large, energy-consuming business,” says Bob Hicks, DBSi’s senior vice president and general manager.

And Yanek appreciates PECO’s helpfulness in keeping the expansion project on schedule.

“They are very responsive when I need information,” he says. “They recognize that we have a mission-critical schedule, and they respond appropriately.”

University of Pennsylvania: A Commitment to the Community

Another success story is at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). The university opened its first central data center here 25 years ago; that center is now at capacity, and Penn is designing a replacement to be located on a 23-acre plot adjacent to the main campus.

According to Ray Davis, executive director of Systems Engineering and Operations with Penn’s Information Systems and Computing department, a location next to campus just makes sense. The new data center can connect to the university’s existing high-speed fiber network, and consolidating most of the university’s computing support into one building will reduce both space and energy usage.

But Davis says Greater Philadelphia is a good data center location for anyone, not just organizations with an existing base here. He cites the region’s quality of life, proximity to East Coast metroplexes, and the area’s large pool of staffing and support professionals.

“Penn is consistently ranked as a top IT organization nationally,” Davis says. “A big part of that is where we’re located and access to all these resources. It’s just a vibrant region – we’ve got a good future ahead of us.”

Data Center Success Stories

Data center located at 401 N. Broad St.



The primary goal of PECO’s Economic Development team is to attract, expand and retain companies, and increase electric load and natural gas usage within southeastern Pennsylvania. Our team collaborates with county and state economic officials to help identify potential resources for growing companies. Additionally, we work with the region’s commercial real estate professionals to provide confidential, customized site selection assistance.

Based on a recent industry assessment commissioned by PECO’s Economic Development team, as well as other industry trends, there is a tremendous growth opportunity within the data center industry sector. We will continue to dedicate our time and effort to assist users and service providers within this industry sector to get the answers they need to make site location decisions.

Phil Eastman Manager Economic Development [email protected] (215) 841-5640

Edward Piscopo Regional Director Economic Development [email protected] (215) 841-5411

Desiree Miller Regional Director Economic Development [email protected] (215) 841-5659

Maureen Sharkey Sr. Economic Development Specialist Economic Development [email protected] (215) 841-4996

www.peco.com/economic

What PECO Economic Development Can Do for You …

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