Endorsement from the historic civil rights organization further cements widespread support from community groups for 76 Place and the opportunities it will create for the Black community
Philadelphia, PA, May 7, 2024 – In an event today at String Theory Charter School in Philadelphia, the NAACP Philadelphia Branch formally announced its support for 76 Place at Market East. The NAACP Philadelphia Branch serves as the local affiliate of the national NAACP, which has been recognized for more than a century as a force for positive social change, improving the lives and livelihoods of Black community members and other Americans. At today’s event, leadership from the Branch highlighted shared synergies between the organization’s mission and 76 Place’s commitment to deliver measurable beneficial outcomes for Black individuals and organizations.
The NAACP Philadelphia Branch will serve as a key civil rights and community stakeholder for 76 Place. They will help reach and educate the community about the opportunities 76 Place presents from jobs during construction to contracting when the arena opens.
“As a leading advocacy organization, the NAACP Philadelphia Branch is intensely focused on protecting civil rights and creating new opportunities for underserved communities. After reviewing with our Branch Officers and Executive Committee, the opportunity of 76 Place at Market East and the developer’s agreement for the NAACP to be a valued partner, we are excited to support this project. Together, we can ensure that the Black community and communities of color more broadly are afforded a seat at the table,” said Catherine Hicks, President of the NAACP Philadelphia Branch. “We are committed to supporting this venture that will create a brighter future for our city. Along with the historic number of jobs, careers, and other opportunities, this project will have a positive and lasting impact for our families and community.”
76 Place’s initiatives and partnerships focus on preparing Black residents and businesses to benefit from the project as part of a larger effort to ensure the proposed arena is a win for Philadelphia, including underrepresented business owners across the city. The development team is actively working with groups representing other communities to develop similar partnerships, programs, and commitments to the ones it has developed with the Black Clergy and the African American Chamber of Commerce, which focus on the Black community. All of those conversations will inform key components of a $50M Community Benefits Agreement – the largest in Philadelphia’s history. Through collaboration with community stakeholders, the CBA will address the priorities of the surrounding neighborhoods and ensure that communities across the city can reap the benefits of the development. Previously announced initiatives include:
- A $2 million commitment to the African American Chamber of Commerce to prepare and scale Black businesses to become vendors, suppliers and concessionaires at 76 Place
- A partnership with Everybody Builds to grow a pipeline of diverse talent and contractors
- A commitment to ensure businesses providing food and beverage at the arena are as diverse as the city itself, including a goal of 40 percent representation by Black-owned businesses
“It means a great deal to have the endorsement of the NAACP for 76 Place and further validates the real change this can create for communities that have long been denied a seat at the table for projects of this magnitude,” said David Gould, 76ers Chief Diversity and Impact Officer. “The jobs that 76 Place will create and the programs we are implementing can serve as linchpins to help reduce the socio-economic divide, empower communities and families to build generational wealth, and provide family-sustaining jobs for local workers. As we continue to build out programs to benefit underrepresented communities across the city, the support of the NAACP will ensure we can reach and achieve the commitments we have already made to the Black community and achieve the long-lasting impact we know is possible.”
“We are grateful to the NAACP for their support of 76 Place and the impact it will have on the Black community and other people of color,” said David Adelman, chairman of 76 DevCo. “In order for this project to be as successful as we know it can be, participants and supporters must reflect the diversity and vibrancy of our city. We hope to continue having more productive dialogues and partnerships like this one with other community groups we are engaging.”
The NAACP Philadelphia Branch joins a growing list of other community groups that have signed on to support 76 Place since it was announced, touting the benefits the project will bring to diverse communities, local workers, and the city as a whole. More than 40,000 Philadelphia residents and commuters have signed a petition in support of the project in addition to the support of influential organizations throughout the region including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EAS Carpenters Union), Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, Building Industry Association (BIA), Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, Inc., African American Chamber of Commerce (PA, NJ, DE), Market Street East Improvement Association, Goldman Properties, Brickstone Realty Corporation, National Real Estate Development, Parkway Corporation, Loews Hotel Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.
For more information on 76 Place and these initiatives, visit 76place.com. For media interviews, contact: 76ersPR@76ers.com.
