Featured Work

Stakeholder Engagement & Community Benefits Strategy for Proposed Sixers Arena

Equitable Cities Consulting and Rvesta Solutions are supporting the Sixers Arena project through strategic advisory services in intentional and culturally relevant community engagement; locally-informed identification of priorities and concerns; peer city research on the impact of arena developments and community benefit agreements; anti-displacement and community preservation strategies; and recommendations for responsible, sustainable development that benefits surrounding communities and the city at large.

Philadelphia Economic Development Ecosystem Analysis and Integrated Jobs & Economic Development Roadmap Steering Committee

Equitable Cities Consulting was contracted by the William Penn Foundation to carry out an analysis of Philadelphia and Camden’s economic development ecosystem, through a combination of desk research and interviews. As a next phase, The Pew Charitable Trusts hired Equitable Cities Consulting - in partnership with Rvesta Consulting and Econsult Solutions - to assist a newly formed Steering Committee in selecting key priorities the greatest potential for long-term, collective action and building an inclusive and resilient future for our city, ultimately increasing the number of quality jobs in Philadelphia.

Pontiac, Michigan Equitable Economic Development Technical Assistance

Equitable Cities Consulting partnered with Activest and Third Eye Network, supported by the Council of Michigan Foundations, to provide technical assistance to the City of Pontiac, Main Street Pontiac, Pontiac Collective Impact Partnership, and Pontiac Community Foundation in order to help strengthen the local economic development ecosystem.

Just Transition and Climate Justice: Global Toolkit for Cities

Equitable Cities Consulting has worked with C40 on three projects related to Just Transition: 1.) ECC recently developed a Global Toolkit for Mayors on the topic of Just Transition; 2.) C40 commissioned several papers to explore the topic in the U.S., Europe and South Africa. Equitable Cities Consulting authored the U.S. paper; 3.) ECC recently completed research on how cities can better engage union labor in climate change.

Building Talent Pipelines for the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Supply Chain

Equitable Cities Consulting is contracted by Rhoads Industries to support the U.S. Navy’s Philadelphia Pipeline Pilot, an initiative focused on building an ongoing pipeline of workers from Career and Technical Education (CTE) High Schools and community colleges in the region to support the talent needs of the Navy’s local supply chain of companies.

Urban Revitalization in Trenton & Baltimore

Equitable Cities Consulting partnered with Urbane Development, an MBE firm that cultivates innovative solutions to build dynamic neighborhoods and positively impact underserved communities. Recent joint projects include the redevelopment of a Transit Orientated Development (TOD) area in Trenton and supporting the revitalization of the Middle Branch Waterfront in South Baltimore.

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Digital Equity Analysis, Assessment, and Recommendations

Equitable Cities Consulting, LLC was engaged by the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey in January 2021 to assess Philadelphia’s strengths, gaps and opportunities related to digital equity. As part of this work, Sylvie conducted in-depth primary and secondary research related to digital access, navigation and tech workforce development, culminating in strategic recommendations for Philadelphia to achieve digital equity and resilience.

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Workforce and Innovation Districts

In January 2021, Equitable Cities Consulting partnered with The Business of Cities to research best practices and identify innovative models of workforce development strategies that have been implemented in innovation districts throughout the globe, to provide recommendations that will inform future investments in innovation precincts to be made by New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The final report issues by the NSW Innovation and Productivity Council illustrates the many ways that innovation precincts can intentionally contribute to workforce development in the surrounding community, in addition to attracting more workers.

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Program Design for Training in Equitable Small Business & Workforce Recovery

Equitable Cities Consulting has supported the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia in developing and implementing two modules of its Reinventing Our Community (ROC) 9-month Cohort Program, focused on equitable small business recovery in 2021 and equitable workforce recovery in 2022.

Clients

 

  • C40 Cities

  • City Ave Special Services District

  • City of Trenton (with Urbane)

  • Council of Michigan Foundations (with Activest)

  • Delaware County Commerce Center/ Economic Development Oversight Board

  • Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (with Econsult Solutions, Inc.)

  • Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

  • For Climate Tech: Second Muse and NextCorps

  • Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment

  • Independence Media Foundation

  • New South Wales Innovation & Productivity Council (with The Business of Cities)

  • Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation

  • Pew Charitable Trusts

  • Philadelphia International Airport (with Campbell-Hill Aviation Group)

  • Reimagine Middle Branch: City of Baltimore, South Baltimore Gateway Partnership & Parks and People Foundation (with Urbane)

  • Rhoads Industries (US Navy Workforce Pipeline Pilot)

  • United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

  • Widener University Small Business Development Center

  • William Penn Foundation

Bringing over twenty years of leadership experience and commitment to inclusive, equitable economic development.

Sylvie Gallier Howard has extensive experience leading economic development work, focused on small businesses, entrepreneurship, neighborhood revitalization, and workforce development; as well as business attraction and retention on an international scale.

She has led the development of inclusive growth strategy, developed programs to support small and minority-owned businesses, and shaped economic recovery frameworks in response to COVID-19.

Whether you are a government agency, non-profit or corporation seeking to foster more inclusive, equitable economic growth in businesses, neighborhoods or cities, Equitable Cities Consulting will serve as your trusted partner to meet your goals. Sylvie brings experience, professionalism and passion to every engagement customized to meet your unique needs.