Philly offers incentives up to $30,000 to draw suburban firms into city

The city of Philadelphia will offer an incentive to suburban companies that set up satellite offices in the city . 

The goal of “Gateway Philly” is to coax suburban businesses to try Philadelphia, said Dwayne Bumb, deputy commerce director.

The department “will reimburse participating companies $1,000 a seat up to $30,000, and reimbursements will be issued after the first-year term is complete,” he said Tuesday.

The incentive could lure some reverse-commuters to stay put, said Mayor Jim Kenney.

“People who live in the city and work in the suburbs don’t … want to reverse-commute anymore,” he said. “I’ve talked to a lot of folks in Old City, they would rather walk to work or bike to work or take the subway.”

The incentives are limited and offered on a first-come/first-served basis.