FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
What is Live Work Philadelphia (LWP)? LWP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving as an independent "Resident Attraction" program for the City of Philadelphia. ​Its efforts are squarely focused on helping to engineer the growth of the middle-income population in Philadelphia via the attraction of diverse professionals.
Why does Philly need a resident attraction program? The reasonable cost of living should elevate Philly's standing as a desirable place to work and live; yet, the city struggles to attract people, and in particular, diverse middle-income people, due to a lack of brand awareness. Attraction programs have served Philly well when the city lacked understanding or connection with certain groups; consider Visit Philadelphia for tourists and Campus Philly for college students.
How exactly will LWP attract new residents? We'll target, pitch and appeal to those with a limited understanding of the nation's 6th largest city with its great amenities and reasonable cost of living. We'll employ an array of online, SEO and digital applications to connect with those we believe can thrive in the City of Philadelphia.
Do Resident Attraction programs exist in other cities? Yes. These programs are now quite common across U.S. cities and around the globe. Originally designed for population growth alone, these programs are now tailored to support and complement existing initiatives to improve the lives of residents, increase business activity, welcome greater diversity and to stay competitive with other cities.
Who will LWP try to attract to the city? Based on data and insight from many city stakeholders, we believe the city is best served by bringing about greater balance in our overall population. We'll begin by targeting what the city needs and lacks most; diverse, middle-income young professionals who have skill sets or educational attainment local employers need and require.
Who does LWP benefit? Philly's diverse communities often experience less social, cultural and consumer options as potential investments, projects and ideas, fail to launch due to a lack of capital and confidence. These communities are what drive us, and we hope to impact. In addition, employers, the city via increased taxes, and residents in general will benefit with increased economic and social activity.
Are all Resident Attraction programs the same? ​No. These programs vary widely. Some appeal for new residents broadly while others are hyper-focused and target certain segments of the population based on the needs of the city. A good example of this is Tulsa Tomorrow which is focused on attracting Jewish professionals to the City of Tulsa Oklahoma.  
How does LWP work? Via marketing campaigns, attraction programs provide cities with a branding boost. ​First, we'll establish an online presence helping to drive visitors to our website. Next, we'll use social media to hyper-target individual demographic profiles within individually selected cities and metro areas.
Does LWP partner or collaborate with any local organizations? Collaboration and partnership is at the heart of our efforts to ensure this program is successful and to bring about the positive impact our residents and communities deserve.
How is LWP funded? As a nonprofit, we have begun to make our appeals to local foundations and corporate organizations as we believe our mission aligns well with their focus and priorities.