Nutter Creates Task Force to Pull More Manufacturing to Philadelphia
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- With jobs in manufacturing on the rise across the country, Mayor Michael Nutter today created a task force to find ways Philadelphia can jump on that bandwagon.
Nutter signed an order creating a task force to look at new ways to lure manufacturing businesses to Philadelphia.
Among the co-chairs of the task force is Dan Fitzpatrick, the CEO of Citizens Bank, who said the region already has a lot going for it.
"We have automated manufacturing capabilities in great capacity in the city of Philadelphia and region," Fitzpatrick said today. "We have a cost-effective energy supply right now that creates competitive advantage. And then also what we have is location, and a great transportation hub in this Greater Philadelphia region. We have a tremendous opportunity to grow our manufacturing sector rapidly."
The mayor also ticked off the area's selling points:
"We can hold up Philadelphia for the manufacturing history that we have, the great location, access to rail, road, air, and certainly port. So we think that we are positioned well to seek a number of different industries, and we need to be as aggressive and expansive as possible," he said.
The task force will have up to 25 members and is to deliver its recommendations to the mayor by the end of September.
The task force will have four co-chairs. They are, besides Fitzpatrick, Bill Hunt, CEO of Agusta Westland, a helicopter manufacturer based in the city; city councilman Bobby Henon; and city commerce director Alan Greenberger.
