WASHINGTON, D.C. - Mayor Douglas H. Palmer today chaired the first U.S. Conference of Mayors task force on the franchise business economic outlook – and emphasized that industry leaders are cautiously optimistic about the prospect for franchises to succeed during economic recovery.

“The optimism is based on the underlying strength of the franchise business model,” Mayor Palmer said. “When you combine well-established brands, training, and support systems with the entrepreneurial spirit of people who are committed to successful franchises, there can be tremendous opportunities for success – even in times of economic uncertainty.”

The Mayor was joined by Vice President John Reynolds of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and M. Troy Flanagan, who directs government relations for that organization, in presenting a first-ever report to the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the IFA Educational Foundation, the report provides forecasts for the number of establishments, employment, and economic output – the first national-level measurements of business format franchises.