Taking Care of Business Program takes care of 460 trees along commercial corridors while growing green skills

Did you know? Philadelphia is celebrating 50 years as an official Tree City USA. This designation was created in 1976, and Philadelphia is one of a few cities with the honor of holding the title for 50 years.

This Arbor Day, the Department of Commerce celebrates the Taking Care of Business (TCB) Program, through which Cleaning Ambassadors work to maintain clean and green commercial corridors.

The Department of Commerce's TCB Program currently funds 51 neighborhood-based nonprofits to sweep sidewalks, participate in beautification efforts, and maintain clean neighborhood commercial corridors while creating employment opportunities.

The TCB Program supports Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's vision for Philadelphia to become the safest, cleanest, greenest big city in America with access to economic opportunity for all.

Growing Philadelphia's urban forest

In the past four years, the TCB Program has planted and maintained 460 trees on 60 blocks within 15 commercial corridors in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and community-based organizations contracted through TCB, with lead support from the William Penn Foundation.

The new trees are planted in priority areas for health and equity as detailed in the Philly Tree Plan: Southwest, West, and eastern North Philadelphia.

The Department of Commerce is committed to beautiful, welcoming, and healthy environments for merchants and shoppers. Trees are good for business: they create cooling shade and lower utility bills, and customers visit commercial corridors more often, shop longer, and spend more money on streets that have trees.

Beyond planting: Year-round maintenance

Regular maintenance is essential to help new trees get established, grow healthy, and survive. Throughout the year, Cleaning Ambassadors are paid to maintain new trees, including watering and mulching the trees, keeping tree pits clean, cleaning up fallen leaves, and pruning branches. They also communicate with business owners and residents about benefits and concerns related to trees.

In line with the goals of the Philly Tree Plan, TCB expands paid community-based tree care in the city. Through the program's unique model, community-based nonprofits care for neighborhood commercial corridors. TCB Cleaning Ambassadors receive paid training to provide appropriate care for trees during the first few years after planting.

This past winter, 25 Cleaning Ambassadors were able to focus on pruning trees planted 2-3 years ago. Pruning branches in winter helps trees grow the right shape, stay clear of cars and people, and bloom in the spring.

TCB Cleaning Ambassadors' commitment to establishing and shaping the trees when they are young sets the trees up for success, creating more beneficial tree canopy across the city.

Investing in green job training

The TCB Program offers to Cleaning Ambassadors a comprehensive tree care training with support from training partners. Topics covered in the training series include watering, mulching, pruning, work planning, tree identification, and tree assessment.

Forty Cleaning Ambassadors have graduated from the training, sharing:

• "[We] learned to give our trees room to breathe and how to work together as a team."
• "The topics on communication solidified my thoughts about how important it is to care about people."

With the partnership of community-based organizations and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, TCB is excited to continue its commitment to paid tree care maintenance, and to investing in green skills job training.

The Department of Commerce celebrates TCB's tree care program!

Philadelphia tree resources

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation offers online access to tree-related services, including:

• Get a street tree
• Get a yard tree
• Request street tree maintenance
• Report a dead tree