PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Mayor Nutter talked about jobs, the economy, education, and ethics – among other topics – during his annual address this past week to the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Despite the economic challenges of the past two and a half years, Mayor Nutter told the business community that investment is flowing again, and they’re working everyday to create jobs, “The problem is, Ed Rendell is taking all of them.” (Crowd laughs)

Back to more serious matters, he says engines of our regional economic growth – small businesses – are hitting their stride again, pointing to $47 million in city-related loans to 68 small Philadelphia businesses last year, a 50% increase over 2009.

He also says folks would have to go back to the era of Richardson Dilworth to find an administration that’s done more to reform government and restore trust, ethics and integrity.

“We have investigated and fired over 100 workers who violated the trust of the citizens of this city,” Nutter added.

The mayor says ‘dishonest people need not apply to the city of Philadelphia’, “nor can they stay in this government. Not anymore. Those days are over.”

The event drew about 1300 people to the grand ballroom at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Reported By Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio.