Creating Opportunity in Philly

White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council Executive Director Scott Turner tours The Enterprise Center in West Philadelphia with Della Clark, the center's president and CEO

White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC) Executive Director Scott Turner was given a glimpse inside efforts with great potential to strengthen Philadelphia's distressed neighborhoods during his visit on July 9.

Alongside HUD partners, elected officials and local leaders, he toured areas planned for redevelopment in Opportunity Zones within the West Philadelphia Promise Zone, where the city is working to align efforts to lift individuals and communities out of poverty.

During his visit, three roundtables were held for federal and elected officials; economic development and faith-based leaders; and developers and investors—all of them gave participants an opportunity to learn more about the work and goals of the WHORC and the chance to provide input on how to move Opportunity Zones forward in the city.

Turner has made several trips to the Mid-Atlantic region, including this month's visits to Bellefonte and Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, and to Charleston, West Virginia, in May.

"It wasn't until this week when sitting in Tamaqua and West Philly that I realized this incentive has even more potential than I originally thought," said HUD Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Joe DeFelice. "My message to communities is to not wait for investors to come to you. Go to them. Start an Opportunity Zone fund and develop a project or prospectus. Remake your communities the way you want them, using your own vision."

See photos from the Philly (www.flickr.com/photos/hudopa/albums/72157709858288087) visit.

###