We are pleased to welcome our new neighbors, the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, to 22 S. 40th Street.

“The building into which the Skills Initiative will move is befitting to its mission. Designed by Frank Furness, it was built in the early 1870s as theWest Philadelphia Institute to train young men for jobs being created by the Industrial Revolution such as in steel. That the Skills Initiative is moving into 5,600 square feet in the building with such a history is coincidental but a welcome occurrence to its landlord, an entity affiliated with U3 Ventures.

‘For us, life really gets to be an experience in being full circle,’ said Omar Blaik of U3 Ventures. “Not only is the building coming back to its original purpose, but our advisory business, U3 Advisors, promotes workforce development and buy local initiatives across the country.[University City District, or UCD,] is our main example and we bring people from across the country to visit so they can learn and replicate it.”

For more information, read the full article here.