On May 21, four teams were selected as finalists in the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia’s Fair City Challenge Pitch Competition, which was held at the Center for Architecture and Design in Market East/Chinatown. The Fair City Challenge focuses on finding community-driven solutions to make neighborhoods fairer, more inclusive, and help close Philadelphia’s racial wealth gap. Independence Blue Cross is a corporate sponsor of the Challenge.
Each finalist received $10,000 and a spot in an accelerator program to refine their business ideas. One team will go on to win the grand prize: a $50,000 investment to bring their project to life.
Here are the finalists and their projects:
- North Roots x Bossed Up
North Roots Orchard & Farm is transforming North Philadelphia’s Logan Triangle into a thriving urban farm, food forest, and cultural hub. Partnering with Brandy Fortune’s Bossed Up, they merge agriculture and public art to revitalize abandoned spaces, fostering food justice, workforce development, and community pride. - The WEALTH Collective
The WEALTH Collective is a team of Black women in real estate, banking and finance on a mission to eliminate racial appraisal bias of Black and Brown people and communities in Philadelphia and across the nation. - Raíces Capital Fund
JumpStart Philly was started to help people purchase and rehab houses in underinvested neighborhoods. The Raíces Capital Fund plans to address the capital gap needed for people of color, specifically Latinos, to become real estate investors. - Philadelphia Climate Equity Home Fund
The Climate Equity Home Fund (CEHF) is a climate fintech platform that helps low- and moderate-income homeowners in Philadelphia finance energy-efficient home upgrades — boosting home equity while reducing energy costs.
The Fair City Challenge was inspired by the Economy League’s report, “Know Your Price, Philly.” The report looks at 70 years of property value data by race and neighborhood, highlighting the impact of racial devaluation in Philadelphia.