Chestnut Hill is the ideal place to start, grow and expand your business. For iconic, independent stores such as Robertson’s Flowers (1927), Killian’s Hardware (1913), McNally’s Tavern (1921) and Bredenbeck’s Bakery (1889), Chestnut Hill has been a proven, time-tested market.

There are many resources available to guide you on your way to starting a business and locating it here in Chestnut Hill.  If you’re starting from scratch with a brand new idea, we’ve collected all the fundamentals in one place to help you check off all the necessary boxes to make that idea a reality.

Pop over to our HOW TO START A NEW BUSINESS page in our Members Area for a step-by-step guide to everything you’ll need to know and do.

If you’ve already got those basics in order, but want help with specifics that relate to opening in our historic business corridor, read on! These helpful guidelines have been created to see you through the next phase:

Chestnut Hill Community Process for new businesses:

Community Development – DRC

Chestnut Hill Streetscape Guidelines:

Welcome Letter

Streetscape Application Form

General Guidelines

Sign Guidelines

Illumination Guidelines

Facade Guidelines

Awning Guidelines


Thinking of opening a restaurant? 

There’s free assistance available for new food businesses within the City of Philadelphia:

  •  A NEW step-by-step manual that walks the business owner through the regulatory process of opening a stationary food business in Philadelphia.
  • NEW joint hours in Center City with the Department of Licenses & Inspections to answer your questions about plan review applications, equipment requirements, inspection reports, and much more.  Our Center City hours are Tuesdays-Thursdays, 10 am – 2:30 pm, in the lower concourse level of the Municipal Services Building, 1401 JFK Boulevard (across from City Hall).

All of these resources and more may be found at: www.phila.gov/health/foodbusiness.


And when it’s time to grow .. 


PIDC LOGOS

PIDC is Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation. Our mission is to spur investment, support business growth, and foster developments that create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and drive growth to every corner of Philadelphia. Armed with flexible financing products, a targeted portfolio of industrial and commercial real estate, and decades of Philadelphia-based knowledge, PIDC provides the resources and expertise to help you invest, develop, and grow.

PIDC’s business lending activity increased by 20% in 2014 as we made 66 business loans totaling over $23 million to help small and mid-sized businesses get the flexible capital they needed to innovate and expand. PIDC provided loans for working capital, debt refinancing, building acquisition, construction, and new equipment to businesses and non-profits of all sizes throughout Philadelphia.

If your business or non-profit is looking to grow, we want to help you get there. Our financing resources include:

Working Capital and Equipment Loan
  • Supports small and midsize businesses and nonprofits that need term financing for working capital, debt refinancing, equipment, or leasehold improvements to support their growth.
Capital Project Loan
  • For businesses or non-profit organizations undertaking capital projects such as building acquisition, renovation, leasehold improvements or equipment that need additional subordinate financing to complete the project.
Contract Line of Credit
  • Provides small, minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses a line of credit to fund contract-related working capital.
Partner Bank Guarantee
  • A loan guarantee program available to any small business or non-profit located in or planning to locate to Philadelphia that is having difficulty accessing conventional financing.

Let us help you get the capital you need for the business you love, contact Chamor Hollinger at 215.496.8157 or chollinger@PIDCphila.com. Or visit PIDCphila.com.