What drives Philly poll workers to show up year after year? (Hint: It’s not the money)

Founder Karla Ballard says users can pay others with time-based tokens for tasks or skills shared, and receive them when offering their own.

FirstHand students said their reasons for launching their own ventures ranged from wanting to stay busy to spiting naysayers: "'Oh, you’re a business owner at your age?' Like, yes."

Ahead of a Roe v. Wade SCOTUS decision, the team leading the Philly-based company wants to ensure anyone who needs access to emergency contraceptive can get it.

Following a mass shooting on South Street this weekend, Philly business owners will face the costly realities of yet another epidemic: "It has felt like small businesses have had to take on all of society’s problems all at once."

Across Philadelphia, 10 $5,000 grants will be doled out, along with homeownership and homebuying education courses. The program will extend to more cities next year.

The West Philadelphia org has seen $14 million committed by area banks, companies and other institutions so far.

Paired with their computer and IT education, students in the 10th through 12th grade are servicing devices from all across the School District of Philadelphia.

Consider a case study from Boston on improving the program.

The new Biz on Wheels van brings office services and free tax, loan and marketing consultation, with a focus on minority- and immigrant-owned businesses.

The stated mission of the proposed Philadelphia Public Financial Authority is to support Black-owned businesses and other businesses in neighborhoods that have historically lacked access to credit. Here's what else to know as City Council prepares to vote on the bill that would launch it.

Philadelphia fell in the middle of a recent ranking for large metros getting their 65+ population connected to broadband internet.

Two years into the pandemic, the Office of Innovation and Technology laid out an executive order and plan for how it will continue to address the digital divide in Philadelphia. Its four main goals focus on devices, connectivity, training and the wider ecosystem.

The ban went into effect Jan. 1, but look out for exemptions. Plus, meet Phynally, a new platform that lists marijuana-friendly positions.

About 5,700 people are homeless in Philadelphia. Innovation for housing those individuals is needed — but must center their humanity, not just technical ingenuity, this advocate writes.

Philly Community Wireless was started in 2020 to combat the digital divide in North Philadelphia. The org has since launched free internet for thousands in Kensington's Norris Square Park area.

After the local chapter's successful inaugural cohorts last year, the bootcamp is rolling out a full- and part-time option in 2022.

While shopping for Instacart or driving for DoorDash is more flexible than a 9-to-5, it may not offer the stability that many workers — especially moms — need.

The low rate could be a sign of impending recovery, but it could also mean the state has yet to catch up to Great Resignation trends of those that reopened sooner, says this researcher.

Local government was eager to learn how discounted or free broadband access programs affected digital access across Philadelphia. With updated stats, it can focus on what works.

It's a partnership between Philadelphia's Parks and Rec Department and Nerd Street Gamers. "This is about access to technology," said John Fazio, the esports company's founder and CEO.

The Workforce Recovery Strategies Committee aims to tackle pandemic employment challenges through collaboration. Plus, Philadelphia Works' Patrick Clancy on what's really behind the phrase "people don't want to go back to work."

Students in Steppingstone Scholars' Blended Learning Initiative learn skills like robotics and coding. There's a racial equity lens, too.

The pool of potential investors can tell us a lot about the health of local startups. Here's what the data say about who's a part of it in Philly.

"The problem isn’t a labor shortage because of unemployment benefits, the problem is jobs are paying wages that are too low for workers to sustain," writes Madison Nardy, a member the Youth Action Board of Philly's Community Legal Services.

Bridging the gap between new and traditional tech skills requires policy change, says this digital access researcher: "We have to think of it as fundamental."

The City Council-backed jobs board aims to make it easier to find employment in the Greater Philadelphia region, from hospitality to software development, as well as educational programs if you're looking to level up.

ESOPs, or employee stock ownership plans, are like 401k plans for employees — but with more benefits. They're also touted as a way to boost workers' wealth.

The technologist and investor is part of the team behind a Black-run currency, Guapcoin, and is passionate about educating others about crypto's opportunities.

Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation's site relaunched with full accessibility and interactivity this month after incorporating user testing through the design process.

Seven local rising college juniors and seniors will spend their summers working in VC and private equity firms in a Steppingstone Scholars program created to address systematic barriers in the industry.

Three semesters after classes shifted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students report experiencing increased technology needs, learning difficulties and fewer connections to peers and teachers.

Career Bridge aims to bridge the access gap for displaced workers. And a new expansion of the Urban League's Urban Tech Jobs Program has similar goals.

The Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation provides funding for tech for people with disabilities.

Hopeworks is launching a new coworking space for tech trainees and alumni. Executive Director Dan Rhoton sees it as a poverty fighter and community booster, too.

The Comcast grant will fund and expand Steppingstone Scholars' internship and mentoring programs, plus computer science and advanced math instruction for the next few years.

Philadelphia Legal Assistance's Julia Simon-Mishel says the $300 supplement is essential to providing workers with stability as they wait for the economy to rebound and for jobs to return.

Philadelphia Financial Scholars grew from a program offered by FS Foundation and University of Pennsylvania's Netter Center for Community Partnerships.

Life Science Cares Philadelphia is collaborating with Philadelphia Futures for the program designed to help economically disadvantaged college students gain opportunities.

A quick explainer on the income-based tax that pays for city services, and how employees who live in the 'burbs can apply for a refund if they've been working from home.

State officials warned that such scams have ramped up since Congress extended federal unemployment benefits.

The comms giant raised speeds of its service for low-income customers. Coming amid a pandemic, it raises the questions: Is it enough? And what is Comcast's responsibility to solve the digital divide?

Students whose families expressed interest in in-person learning in the fall will be the first group to return to schools two days per week after a year of virtual learning.

The TechUp program from ACHIEVEability will work to help people with less resilient or no employment develop Salesforce skills.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance — commonly known as PUA — has returned, after the CARES Act program had expired at the end of December.

Some businesses that received an early Paycheck Protection Program loan can now apply for another under the new COVID-19 relief bill from Congress. Here are all the local outfits that got funding earlier this year — and how much.

With support from Accenture and local orgs, the Philadelphia Skills Forward Initiative will help job seekers advance their entrepreneurship, health tech and administration, and IT skills over 18 months.

With Congress negotiating another federal relief bill, it’s worth taking a moment to look at where the first 4.9 million loans went.

Here's what unemployment benefits have meant for three people who lost work early in the pandemic, from paying for emergency dental bills to helping recipients better prepare for the future.

Search this list and map to see how much tech companies like Linode, Sidecar and NeuroFlow got, and the ZIP code where most loans in the city are concentrated.

Economy League's Mohona Siddique on how employers can uplift Philadelphia’s Black workforce.

The coronavirus crisis "has fully exposed the certainty that investing in the welfare and talents of workers is inextricably linked to the success of our economy," writes University City District's Matt Bergheiser.

Residents will be able to get eight rides, or four roundtrips, for the flat rate.

Technical.ly traveled to Albuquerque, N.M., to find what has worked — and what hasn't — in that city's approach to workforce development.

Oct. 9 is deadline day for the Nov. 6 election. Here's an informative video from Broke in Philly to get you pumped about doing your civic duty.

Last week, nonprofit Benefits Data Trust rolled out an algorithm that helps employees get ahead of the potential needs of SNAP applicants.

As Philly grapples with stubborn levels of poverty, one New Mexico city could yield some lessons. Tag along for this reporting trip to Albuquerque, funded by Broke in Philly.

A South Philly makerspace is getting state funding to help people land specialized manufacturing jobs in six weeks.

Over the past seven weeks, the Tech Industry Partnership — a group of about 30 tech stakeholders — has been meeting with the city's Office of Workforce Development. Here's their mission (and how they want to get there).

Technical.ly is teaming up with Generocity and 19 other newsrooms in an effort to spotlight potential solutions to Philly's poverty crisis.