Source: NW Philly Small Business Summit – Mt. Airy
Northwest Philadelphia’s tight-knit business community gets a boost this November: the Northwest (NW) Philly Small Business Summit returns as a one-day, practical event for neighborhood entrepreneurs, side-hustlers, vendors, and community organizers. The summit, hosted by Mt. Airy CDC, aims to connect Black and African entrepreneurs in Germantown, Mt. Airy, West Oak Lane, and nearby areas with workshops, one-on-one assistance, funding expertise, and marketplace opportunities.
Source: NW Philly Small Business Summit – Mt. Airy
What The Summit Is & Why It Matters
The NW Philly Small Business Summit evolved from Go Mt. Airy’s business programming and regional neighborhood expos, and was formalized as a summit that centers on local businesses across Northwest Philadelphia. Organized by Mt. Airy CDC and partners, it blends practical training (tax, bookkeeping, digital marketing), peer networking, and vendor space so local entrepreneurs can win customers and contracts without leaving the neighborhood. For Black and African entrepreneurs, many of whom face capital gaps, fewer referral pipelines, and the need for culturally competent supports, the summit is a local, low-friction place to learn actionable skills and to plug into loan, grant, and mentoring networks.
What To Expect This Year
This year’s summit is scheduled as a full-day, in-person event with a mix of workshops, panels, roundtables, and a networking happy hour. Mt. Airy CDC lists November 10 as the date with registration, breakfast, and a mid-day lunch option; programming includes sessions such as social-media strategy, small-business tax preparation (BIRT guidance), sustainability for small businesses, short-form video promotion, and a roundtable on expanding to multiple locations. There will also be partner resource tables where you can book follow-up help.
Speakers and presenters this year include local business leaders, city partners, and sessions with Dionne Watts-Williams and City of Philadelphia Department of Revenue panels are listed on the agenda.
Who Should Attend & Why
- New business owners: to learn basics such as tax obligations, bookkeeping best practices, and marketing that reaches your people.
- Side-hustlers: to test customer demand, learn how to go formal, and find affordable local services (design, bookkeeping, payments).
- Established owners: to find suppliers, hire local talent, expand into other neighborhoods, or pitch for local contracts.
- Organizers & community groups: to recruit vendors, spot partners for faith-based networks or neighborhood festivals, and identify affordable capital sources.
Culturally, the summit is tuned to the NW Philly context, expect conversations about doing business around Germantown Avenue and connecting with neighborhood institutions that know how to work within Black and African community networks.
Practical Info & Resources
- Date & Time: Monday, November 10, 2025, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (check event page to confirm).
- Venue: NewCourtland conference facilities, 6950 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19119. (Google Maps link available on the event page.)
- Cost: General admission is listed at $30 (includes continental breakfast + happy hour). Discounts and reduced rates are available for Go Mt. Airy Business Association members and partner CDCs. Email the event manager for codes. Lunch is available for purchase; add-ons (professional headshots) may be offered.
- Closest Transit & Parking: Ride SEPTA Route 23 along Germantown Avenue or plan via the SEPTA trip planner; nearby Regional Rail stops serving the Mt. Airy/Germantown area (check CHE/CHW lines and local Mt. Airy/Germantown stops) can make the trip easier—confirm exact directions with SEPTA before you go. If you drive, allow time for street parking or check venue guidance.
- How To Register / Vendor Info: Register on the official Mt. Airy CDC event page (ticket/registration link is listed on the summit page). If you want to exhibit or apply as a vendor, email the Development & Events Manager (Sydney Camisa Deas) at scamisadeas@mtairycdc.org for any questions.
- Discounts: A 50% admission discount is available to members of the Go Mt. Airy Business Association. An admission discount of $5 is available to business members of Germantown United CDC, Manayunk Development Corporation, Roxborough CDC, Chestnut Hill Business District, and East Falls Development Corporation. For the appropriate discount code, please email Sydney Camisa Deas, Development & Events Manager, at scamisadeas@mtairycdc.org.
Source: NW Philly Small Business Summit – Mt. Airy
Local Small-Business Supports (check their Philly pages):
- SBA Philadelphia: district office resources for loans, counseling, and federal programs. sba.gov
- SCORE Greater Philadelphia: free mentors and workshops. score.org
- Entrepreneur Works (CDFI): small loans + training for underserved entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur Works
- The Enterprise Center: minority business technical assistance and procurement support. theenterprisecenter.com
- PA CDFI Network / local CDFIs: for flexible capital and community lending. dced.pa.gov
At-A-Glance Checklist
- Confirm date, time & registration link on the Mt. Airy CDC event page.
- Bring printed/digital materials (see “What To Bring” below).
- Book lunch pre-order by the event deadline if needed.
What To Bring (quick box)
- Business cards (or QR contact)
- One-page sell sheet / one-sheet
- Digital portfolio on a phone or tablet
- 30-second elevator pitch (practice it)
- Notepad/charger / comfortable shoes
Networking Tip: 30-Second Pitch (use at the summit)
“Hi, I’m [Name]. I run [business], which helps [who you serve] solve [problems] by [what you do]. I’m looking for a [mentor/supplier/retail partner]. Can I share my card and follow up next week?”
Register today on Mt. Airy CDC’s official summit page, tell your neighbors, and bring a fellow Black or African entrepreneur who could use mentorship or a vendor booth. Follow Go Mt. Airy on social channels for last-minute updates and to join pre-summit networking.
Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.
