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Higher Education And Business Leaders Come Together At Campus Philly's Annual Meeting

By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Campus Philly is holding its annual meeting today, bringing together more than 250 leaders in business and higher education. The group's efforts to attract more young professionals to Philadelphia are working.

President Deborah Diamond says CampusPhilly was created to solve Philadelphia's brain drain--where young people get a degree from one of the regions more than 100 institutions of higher ed and move to another city.

"It meant that our employers had problems growing and attracting talent," says Diamond. "We're becoming a brain magnet and we're turning away from the conversation of brain drain."

Now, 25 to 34 year olds professionals are flocking to Philly, says Diamond.

"CEOs for Cities put us 8th among cities and close in suburbs for growth in that population," she says. "And New Geography said that among largest metro areas, Philly is number one for growth of 25 to 34 year olds with college degrees. Philadelphia is a place of choice for recent college graduates, both from our region and outside our region."

And this new talent pool is great for business.

"It's allowing employers to pick the best of the best," says Diamond. "It's allowing new companies to grow."

She says the fastest growing industries in the area-- education, medicine, finance, insurance and technology.

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