Africatown is designed to become an economic development initiative to create jobs, for our youth, in Southwest Philadelphia, increase business ownership among the residents of the community and eliminate poverty in one of the most economically depressed communities in Philadelphia. To accomplish these objectives, Africatown, being developed in the community will become a “Tourist Destination Point ” for the global African diaspora and other interested persons.
Most of the infrastructure already exist in the southwest community, in which Africa Town will be situated. Most important are the nearly 500 businesses owned by immigrants that live and work in the community.
ACANA and other community development corporations (CDCs) have been providing technical assistance to these African, Caribbean, and other immigrants that own businesses along the commercial corridors in the southwest. While the technical assistance has been well received, the Africatown strategy is designed to motivate more potential customers to visit the area.
Clearly, to accommodate the thousands of new visitors to southwest, additional infrastructure will be required, and several buildings will be proposed to attract businesses, tourist, and shoppers to patronize the many immigrant businesses on the commercial corridors in Africatown. The following are a brief description of the major buildings to be constructed in Africatown.