Frequently Asked Questions

The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) is the leading resource for businesses of all sizes and industries in Greater Reading, dedicated to accelerating economic growth. We collaborate with both the private and public sectors to advance, connect, engage and champion economic development across our community. GRCA provides critical support through financing, site selection, workforce training, leadership development, advocacy for pro-business policies and exclusive networking opportunities, helping businesses thrive at every stage.

The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance is a 501(3)c not-for-profit organization. 

Chamber members can reserve board and training rooms at both GRCA locations in downtown Reading and Wyomissing. 

GRCA members can post jobs on our site by filling out the form found by logging in to their Member Information Center. For help logging in, please email Melissa Hassler.

GRCA members have access to our Ribbon Cutting Kit, please fill out our request form. 

Please be in touch with a Member Services team member: Dallan Yoh at dyoh@greaterreading.org or Melissa Hassler at MHassler@greaterreading.org. 

No. GRCA membership is open to businesses with local operations or those that connect to businesses within Berks County or seeking to expand into the region.  

Yes. Membership benefits extend to all employees of a member company.

There are a variety of pathways the Chamber provides to improve operations: 

• For small businesses, GRCA offers the Team of Experts program, which provides 30 minutes of free consultation for a variety of operational areas.  
• We also offer the Berks Family Business Alliance program that includes exclusive events and peer-to-peer engagement for small, family-owned businesses.  
• For mid-to-larger size businesses, we have a finance & real estate team for expansion and investment concerns, as well as opportunities to get involved in advocacy initiatives that may impact business operations.  
• Our training department provides two tracks for managers (lead and supervisor), as well as leadership programs to improve operational efficiency and employee retention.  
• For workforce issues, we offer a quarterly Roundtable for HR managers to discuss trends, concerns and ways to improve talent attraction and retention.  
• Also, as a Chamber member, your company will receive exclusive discounts to programs that can improve your bottom line. From email marketing to healthcare programs, the Chamber strives to include programs that will make a difference to your business. 

If your business is interested in expanding to the Greater Reading region, or if you are seeking data on the local economy, then joining the Chamber will provide your business with this information, as well as support GRCA’s efforts in growing and supporting the local economy through our economic and community development efforts. Learn more about GRCA’s status as the Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO) for Berks County and other key designations. 

The cost to join the Chamber starts at $540. We offer five levels of membership up to $5,400. Each level has its own mix of benefits, from marketing opportunities to credits for training and peer groups. 

GRCA members can update their company listing by logging in to their Member Information Center. For help logging in, please email Melissa Hassler.

Yes, the Chamber has been delivering best in class professional development programs for over 20 years. Programs are delivered at our training facility, The Center for Business Excellence located at 49 Commerce Dr. in Wyomissing. Certificate Programs include Lead Worker, Supervisor, Essentials of Effective Management and Strategies for Highly Effective Presentations and Public Speaking. In addition, the Chamber works with members to design and deliver customized training programs that can be delivered at our training facility, at your location, virtually or in a hybrid format. For more information, please email Mark Dolinski, Vice President of Training and Professional Development.

The Chamber offers multiple advertising channels to our members. From digital media marketing and social media takeovers, chamber members can take advantage of numerous advertising avenues. To learn more about all advertising opportunities, click here.

The Chamber frequently shares member news on our social media channels, in a monthly Member Minute e-newsletter, on our website, and in our quarterly publication, Commerce Quarterly. 

Sponsorship opportunities in varying price ranges are available for all GRCA events including all four signature events. To learn more about all sponsorship opportunities, click here. 

Members may share good news, events, open houses and ribbon cuttings. Any news shared with the Chamber may be shared via social media channels, Member Minute e-newsletters and in its quarterly publications. To submit a press release, click here. In addition to submissions on the website, press releases may also be sent to Leah Fassnacht, Director of Communications & Marketing, GRCA. Submission does not always guarantee publication. 

Yes, through Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s affiliate organization, the Greater Berks Development Fund (GBDF), we are able to assist in your financing needs. As the only Certified Economic Development Organization in Berks County, GBDF is able to access funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community Development and other sources to help your business grow and succeed. To learn more, click here. 

To learn more about living and working in our community, we invite you to Meet Greater Reading – take out neighborhood quiz, hear from others living and working here at meetgreaterreading.org.

Check out our tourism partners at Pennsylvania’s Americana Region to plan your next trip, concert or tour.

Please contact Aaron Gantz, Vice President of Economic Development & Strategy at agantz@greaterreading.org to get you connected to a partner organization including but not limited to the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, Kutztown University Small Business Development Center, Penn State Berks LaunchBox, SCORE, and more.  

You can view available Berks County commercial and industrial properties at greaterreadingsites.com. If you have questions about specific properties, please contact Landon Bernheiser, Director of Real Estate & Special Projects at 610.898.7792 or lbernheiser@greaterreading.org.

The Chamber plans and executes over 75 events per year from structured networking events of 20 attendees to 700+ person signature events like The Dinner. Each event is designed specifically to grow your network. Events are hosted at member businesses with invitations sent to all GRCA members (and some events to not-yet members). Typically, events are promoted a few months in advance of the date. You can view all our events and register here. 

We also offer specialty tailored programs for family businesses (Berks Family Business Alliance) and women’s advancement (Women2Women). These programmatic events are designed for personal and professional growth, but also offer excellent networking opportunities.

The Chamber offers a multitude of tailored events and programs to meet the specific needs of each of our members. From small business resources and partnerships to women’s advancement, we have something for you and your staff. We know we have a lot to offer so reach out to our Membership Coordinator, Melissa Hassler or Director of Membership, Dallan Yoh, and tell them your interests and needs! We’d love to get you on the right path to talk the right person to help you succeed. 

The Chamber events calendar is strictly for GRCA events, however there are a few ways you can promote your company’s event to all GRCA members. The Member Minute monthly e-newsletter offers a section to promote your open house, ribbon cutting, or any other event open to the community. Let us know about your event so it can be included in the next Member Minute. If you’d like to reach our audience in a more direct way, you can contact our Vice President of Business Development & Special Programs, Jackie Stiles, at 610.898.7785 or jstiles@greaterreading.org to learn more about advertising options. 

Yes you can! The Chamber offers a number of events for not-yet members to showcase all we can offer as a Chamber and grow your network. Many of our events offer a member admission price, and not-yet member admission price (member prices are lower as membership dues cover these charges). The programs Women2Women, Berks Family Business Alliance, and GRCA Signature Events offer future-member pricing. There are a select number of events that are exclusive to GRCA members including structured networking events and development workshops.

The Chamber advocates for Pro-business policies that are developed on a two-year (legislative cycle) basis by the members of the Business & Community Advocacy Council (BCAC).

The Business & Community Advocacy Council (BCAC) is made up of chamber members, elected officials at the local, state, and federal level and their staff, and like-minded community organizations who meet monthly (every second Friday) to discuss legislative and policy issues that affect the business community. Participation in BCAC is open to GRCA members at the Catalyst level and Advocacy & Community Leadership Series Sponsors.

GRCA helps connect all members with local, state and federal officials through our Action Center. You can find your elected official through the My Voting tab, news and information about the entire Berks County state and federal delegation and what’s going on in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. through the Government tab.

Yes! If you need help connecting with a government agency or you have questions concerning a permit, policy, regulation or legislation, reach out to Alex Roché, GRCA’s Director Advocacy for assistance and guidance.