Jonathan Williams, owner of Chestnut Hill Cleaning Company.

Philadelphia City Council’s Committee on Commerce and Economic Development held a hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 19, to determine the funding of the Power Up Your Business program. The program, which is provided by the Community College of Philadelphia, has helped hundreds of small businesses within the Philadelphia area by giving them the tools and knowledge to become successful business owners.

One such business is the Chestnut Hill Cleaning Company, created by Chestnut Hill native and entrepreneur Jonathan Williams, 22. The business offers a range of services, from carpet cleaning to snow shoveling, in Chestnut Hill and nearby neighborhoods. For Williams, the business started during his time at Central High School. On snow days, he and his friends would plow snow for houses around the neighborhood.

“I live in Chestnut Hill and my friends live on Willow Grove Avenue, so we know the area … simple as that,” Williams said. “It’s an easy place to start, and the people were friendly.”

As high school progressed, Williams and his friends continued their snow cleaning efforts for those who needed their services. Over time, he would take this snow plowing job and grow it into his own business.

“I was the one person who took the initiative,” Williams explained. “I got business cards and after that, the idea kinda stuck.”

After Williams graduated from Central High School in 2014, he went on to study at the Community College of Philadelphia. Eventually, he dropped out to focus full-time on his business. As his business expanded, he wanted to improve his skills and knowledge as a business owner. The Power Up program ultimately turned out to be exactly what he needed.

“I did it last year, and I jumped on the opportunity because it would be a change of plans for me,” Williams said. “Power Up makes me want to go back to school … and work toward something I like learning about.”

Williams went to the City Council meeting on Tuesday to support funding the Power Up program.

“I think it was a pretty powerful experience to go there and do a speech in front of City Council again,” Williams recalled. “It kind of made me feel like my business was worth something to the city. They wanted to hear my input. Overall, I think it was an experience I won’t forget.”

Williams believes that the program and others like it could boost the confidence of small business owners and increase the knowledge and interest of those looking to start their own business in the city.

“I think if they … build programs like Power Up and put them in high schools, maybe as as 7th and 8th grade to teach them about business, they might be able to help businesses in the area so that they can have some sense of pride in downtown Philadelphia everywhere else you don’t get that kind of inclusion,” Williams said.

In the past three years alone, according to the Community College of Philadelphia, the Power Up program has helped 300 small businesses grow and overcome their challenges. The program has assisted business owners with workshops focusing on subjects including commercial leasing, filing city taxes and marketing through social media. Through these workshops, the program helps the owners to overcome or better understand how to tackle issues that may arise from managing their business.

One challenge that Williams has struggled with is finding ways to expand his business and working to smooth out the internal functions of the company.

“One of the challenges [we’re working on] is our systems and findings ways to expand,” he said. He also believes that the Power Up program allows people like him to build themselves and their business up into something that is valuable for the city.

Along with the Power Up program, Williams also gives credit to Chestnut Hill for his success. He believes it is the sense of community among business owners and residents that allows small businesses to succeed in the area compared to other parts of Philadelphia.

“I think that Chestnut Hill is such a huge area just by how much businesses stick together,” Williams said. “It’s not the same anywhere else; Chestnut Hill has a very specific group of people who help each other. I just wish more places would be like that.”