Philadelphia Africatown moves forward receives $9 Million state grant

The African Diaspora was out in full force to witness the official of groundbreaking Philadelphia Africatown on 55th near Chester Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia.

- Marilyn Kai Jewett

In the planning and development stage for over a decade, the project is moving toward fruition. The African Cultural Alliance of North America Inc. (ACANA) is leading the project in partnership with the African Caribbean Business Council of Greater Philadelphia (ACBC).

State Rep. Jordan Harris and State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams were there to present ACANA with a Check for a $9 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant. The RACP provides funding for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. The community development project will cost over $16 million to complete. The boundaries of the project extend from South 47th Street and Baltimore Avenue to South 74th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard and includes the Woodland Avenue business corridor.

According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Philadelphia area is home to over 120,000 African and Caribbean immigrants, many who live in Southwest Philadelphia. Just as many cities have Chinatown as tourist attractions, Southwest Philly, now known as Litle Africa because of its large African population, is being rebranded as Philadelphia Africatown and a destination for the African Diaspora and other tourists. Philadelphia is also a major tourist destination for African Americans nationwide.