Fellow panelist Mitchell Hollin of LLR Partners (left) looks on as Fulton Financial CEO Curt Myers speaks at the State of the Economy event at City Winery.
By Jeff Blumenthal – Senior Reporter, Philadelphia Business Journal
Jamie Stow Photography | For Philadelphia Business Journal
Jul 30, 2025
Business leaders say a coordinated effort among the region’s organizations will be needed to execute the massive slate of festivities coming to the region in 2026 for America’s 250th birthday.
Future Standard CEO Michael Forman, along with LLR Partners partner Mitchell Hollin and Fulton Financial Corp. CEO Curt Myers spoke at the Philadelphia Business Journal’s recent State of the Economy program about the opportunities that could come from 2026 and what role the business community can play. Each said their respective organizations are involved to some degree with supporting the city’s efforts to put on its best face for the flock of expected visitors.
Forman said Philadelphia has a good track record with handing specific, one-time events such as the NFL Draft, the papal visit of Pope Francis and the 2016 Democratic National Convention. But he thinks the city is missing connectivity.
“There needs to be a much more coordinated effort amongst the corporate and civic leaders in this city,” said Forman, who noted Future Standard is sponsoring Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the organizing group planning the local FIFA World Cup games. “We also have some very good foundations in this city, like William Penn, that are engaged in this, and it’s really a time for everybody to work together and see if we can meet the challenge as a group.”
Besides the World Cup, the region will also host the MLB All-Star Game and the PGA Championship in 2026.
Asked by an audience member how to get government, business and philanthropic interests in the city and suburbs rowing in the same direction for these events, Forman said there needs to be a return to a more regional approach to connect better with the major businesses headquartered in the suburbs that rely upon city assets and resources like the airport and the arts and cultural organizations.
Lancaster-based Fulton Financial has become a much larger presence in Philadelphia since acquiring the failed Republic First Bancorp in April 2024. Myers said the now $32 billion-asset bank is funding a program that will offer tours of the city during next year’s events. He’s hoping the bank’s investments in the city will continue long after next year’s festivities have come and gone.
“We’re focused on building infrastructure, supporting things that have more of a permanent impact,” Myers said. “It’s an exciting time but as we look at the community, those are the things that matter. And it has been difficult to deal with a whole bunch of different organizations to figure out all the things that are being done and to find that thing that has lasting impact.”
Panelists (from left) Michael Forman, Mitchell Hollin and Curt Myers at the State of the Economy event at City Winery on July 17.
Jamie Stow Photography | For Philadelphia Business Journal
Hollin said corporations could have two motivations for getting involved — doing the right thing and creating an environment in the region that will attract the best and brightest employee talent from across the country and world. He believes the 250th could draw people to the city for the first time that might never have thought about living and working here before. He said the city does a “remarkably poor” job of branding itself, especially considering the level of talent from local higher education institutions, health care entities and major corporations.
“It would be great to be able to use [2026] as a launching point to demonstrate our key attributes,” Hollin said. “We [at LLR] recruit a lot from all over the country to people that convert themselves to become Philadelphians when they see the quality of life here, the quality of schools for their kids, the accessibility to the beach, the mountains or New York; the cost of living is phenomenal. So, it really is a hidden gem, and we’ve got to figure out as a community how to demonstrate that better.”
Forman noted several civic organizations have expressed concerns about potential federal spending cuts coupled with possible reductions to SEPTA service due to a budget crunch. He said that could create “existential threats” for the 2026 festivities and beyond. And there will be little time to make up the gap before next year, so some organizations may have to do more with less.
“We just have to solve our own problems, and we could use more corporate engagement,” Forman said. “I don’t think we collaborate and engage in the same way that other cities do. We have a great corporate leader at Comcast … but how do we get everybody working together toward a common goal? And we need more of a regional approach to things. The five outlying counties are not going to thrive like they are without a strong Philadelphia. So, I think everybody needs to step up and work together.”