Development in Focus is a monthly recap of the activities GRCA has participated in to drive economic growth, foster collaboration and support businesses across the Greater Reading community. We share the latest initiatives, programs and success stories that showcase our commitment to building and moving Greater Reading forward.
Local Share Account-statewide (LSA) Grant Funding
The Greater Berks Development Fund (GBDF) an affiliate of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA), helped secure more than $720,000 in Local Share Account-Statewide (LSA) grant funding for three local entities. Read more about the projects >
financing
GRCA is committed to helping local businesses succeed by partnering with state and local organizations to access funding like the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) loan program, which offers below-market interest rate loans for land, building, and equipment purchases. More details on financing >
Recent projects include:
- New Castle Lawn and Landscape receiving $840,000 in PIDA financing for expansion in Birdsboro.
- A young family purchasing an 81-acre crop farm in Bernville with a $400,000 PIDA loan.
- In July, a couple in Ontelaunee Township, Berks County, Pa purchased a 40+/- acre agricultural crop ground. They were leasing the farmland but wanted to purchase the land to continue to grow crops for the foreseeable future. In September, they were able to secure financing from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) of $271,750 along with a match from Fulton Bank and equity from the borrower to complete their project.
If you need resources for a project, please contact Kayla Hayick at khayick@greaterreading.org to see if GRCA can be of assistance.
10th Annual MFG Summit
- On October 30, GRCA hosted the 10th annual Manufacturing Summit at Reading Area Community College featuring keynote speaker Lisa Riggs from Team PA and panels on talent pipelines, automation and robotics.
- With over 15% of total employment, the manufacturing sector plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth and supporting local communities. This far exceeds the national average of 8.5%.
Passenger Rail Update – All Aboard!
- Check out this update on passenger rail – State of the Project:
- GRCA has been pleased to support the work of the SRPRA through station location analysis and transit oriented development (TOD) planning in the City of Reading.
- One highlight of the meeting was an update from the Federal Railroad Administration on the SRPRA’s progress through the Corridor Identification and Development Program (CIDP). Key presentations were delivered by Barbara Moreno (Federal Railroad Administration), Joe Barr (Amtrak), Aaron Gantz (Greater Reading Chamber Alliance) and Jack Gombach (City of Reading), each offering insights into the rail project’s next steps and anticipated impact.