Like the wage tax-cut plan he issued late last week, this Katz proposal was short on details and immediately drew criticism from his Democratic rival, John F. Street.

"When you look at the plan Sam Katz released last week and the plan Sam Katz released this week, it's clear that never have so many words been used to say so little," said Ken Snyder, Street's spokesman.

In general terms, as outlined in a report that was released without comment, Katz would streamline the city bureaucracy and its regulations. In an interview, Bob Barnett, Katz campaign director and a former city commissioner of Licenses and Inspections, said his old department probably would be among those targeted. He said companies now have to go through several steps just to get a sign, including applying to L&I for a permit and proper zoning and then to the Art Commission for another approval.

Katz wants to design employee training programs based on employer needs, which the city now does with the Private Industry Council. Barnett said that the council's job training needed to be refined for specific types of jobs that employers want to fill.

Katz would create an "economic development governance team" that Barnett said would be composed of business leaders who would advise the mayor on ways to attract and keep businesses in the city.

Katz also would give business tax rebates to start-up companies "if economic conditions permit," and he would create a $100 million Philadelphia Venture Fund Company that would invest in new companies. Buildings wired for high-end computers would get fee or tax abatements.

Katz said the money would come from pension funds and private investors.

Besides attracting new companies, Katz hopes to work with existing firms to find out what they need to stay or expand in the city. This strategy would focus on hospitals and health-care companies as well as high tech companies and the shipping industry.

Borrowing a phrase from New Jersey Gov. Whitman, Katz said his plan would allow Philadelphia to be "open for business."