Biography

CURTIS JONES, JR. serves as the council representative of the 4th District in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was appointed as Chairman for the Transportation & Public Utilities Committee in City Council, and Vice Chairs the Committee on Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs. He also serves as a member of the following committees; Streets & Services, Labor & Civil Service, Commerce & Economic Development, Public Safety, Ethics, Fiscal Stability & Intergovernmental Cooperation, Legislative Oversight, Housing Neighborhood Development & the Homeless, Technology & Information Services, Environment, and Disabled and the Handicapped Committees. He has recently been appointed to the following boards and commission, The Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust, The Please Touch Museum and the Philadelphia Gas Commission.

A noted expert on community-based economic development, Councilman Jones has served in various public and private sector positions for more than two decades. Appointed in 1987 by former Mayor, W. Wilson Goode, Councilman Jones served as Deputy Director of Finance and Staff Director of the Minority Business Enterprise Council. Under his leadership, minority, women and disabled business entities received more than $583,000,000 in municipal contract opportunities.

Councilman Jones has held positions with the Philadelphia Commerce Department and the Greater Philadelphia Partnership (GPP). During his affiliation with the GPP, Mr. Jones was instrumental in the relocation of Control Data Corporation to the West Philadelphia Economic Empowerment Zone.

Councilman Jones has served on numerous boards and executive committees including the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority’s Minority Advisory Committee, Genesis II Board of Directors, and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau Minority Advisory Council. He has also served as co-Chair of the Philadelphia MED week Committee.

Councilman Jones has lectured extensively on economics and community development. He has appeared on various television and radio programs and previously hosted “Handling Your Business”™ a weekly television and radio show which aired throughout the region.

Councilman Jones has served in city government throughout the past seven mayoral administrations; the councilman has been invited to the White House by both the Clinton and Bush Administration.  He has also addressed the State House by way of several of its committees on issues germane to Philadelphia, giving his insight on Economic Development.

Councilman Jones formerly served as President and C.E.O. of the Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation (P.C.D.C.), a member of the City of Philadelphia’s Vacant Property Review Committee; the Mayor’s Small Business Advisory Commission; the Philadelphia Development Partnership; the Greater Philadelphia Economic Development Coalition; the North Philadelphia Partnership Committee and the Philadelphia Rescue Mission.

As a result of his numerous years of experience in the Philadelphia Economic Development landscape, Councilman Jones has become one of City council’s most formidable advocates for community development and educational stability.  A recipient of numerous community and industry awards, Councilman Jones, is one of Overbrook High School’s accomplished graduates.    He has furthered his scholastic achievements by attending the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels School of Government, completing studies at Boston University’s A.C.C.A. program, and receiving a Master’s certificate in Contract Compliance in conjunction with the University of Alabama.