On November 19, Ben Connors, President and CEO of GBAC, testified before Philadelphia City Council’s Committee of the Whole in support of the 76Place Development at Market East. Ben testified that the arena would create over 9,000 new union construction jobs, revitalize the Market East corridor, and create over $2.4 billion in total economic impact.

On November 19, Ben Connors, President and CEO of the General Building Contractors Association (GBCA), addressed Philadelphia City Council’s Committee of the Whole to advocate for the 76Place Development at Market East.

During his testimony, Connors highlighted the transformative potential of the proposed arena. He emphasized that the project would generate thousands of new union construction jobs, breathe new life into the Market East corridor, and deliver a significant economic boost, contributing over $2.4 billion in total impact to the region.

The 76Place Development represents a major investment in Philadelphia’s future, combining economic growth with community revitalization. Connors’ testimony underscored the commitment of GBCA and its members to advancing opportunities for skilled union labor while fostering a vibrant urban landscape.

From Bisnow.com:
“A project of this magnitude will be a powerful job creator that the working class in the city of Philadelphia desperately needs,” said Daisy Cruz, the Mid-Atlantic district manager for Service Employees International Union. “We can not let this opportunity go anywhere else.”

The arena is projected to create 12,000 new jobs, 9,000 of which would be union construction positions, said Ben Connors, president and CEO of the General Building Contractors Association, which represents 350 local companies.