Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

GRCA’s 2025 Q3 Impact Report

GRCA’s Work Adds Up

At GRCA, we are proud to be one organization with many resources, working every day to help businesses grow and our community thrive. This Q3 Impact Report highlights the progress our team has made, often in close collaboration with partners, across both our chamber and economic development efforts. Whether helping companies expand, strengthening workforce training, engaging members or advocating for smart growth policies, we remain focused on delivering real results for the Greater Reading business community. Thank you to our members, partners and investors who make this work possible.

Warm Regards,

Lucine Sihelnik
President and CEO

Advance

  • $4.7 million in funding is currently in the pipeline through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) and PA Catalyst Loan Fund, a program that targets small businesses, representing more than $16.3 million in total project costs. The funding pipeline includes requests that are under review or awaiting approval. Learn more about business financing options>
  • Worked directly with over 69 Berks-based companies to explore opportunities, tackle challenges and connect companies with the right tools to expand and succeed. These companies represent over 10,900 local jobs. Ready to grow? Let’s talk!>
  • Submitted 9 Letters of Support for community and business projects. Engaged 172 participants from 137 businesses through policy-focused programming, including a Regional Tariff Webinar with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a Business & Community Advocacy Council meeting on the state budget and House Resolution 1, a Washington, D.C. fly-in to advocate for federal investment in the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority and other critical transportation projects in the region. Learn more about our advocacy work>
  • Delivered 13 tailored programs to over 110 participants from 22 organizations. These sessions included leadership development, project management and improving tech skills to support talent retention and internal promotion pipelines while addressing workforce gaps identified through employer outreach. Learn more about Training & Professional Development opportunities>
  • Released the Q2 2025 Economic Intelligence Report, the report offers a data-driven snapshot of key local trends, from employment and wages to housing and demographics. Read the report>
GRCA partnered with chambers from across South Central PA to visit Capitol Hill
and tout the priorities of Greater Reading and South Central PA.

Connect

  • Onboarded 42 New Members.
  • Celebrated 13 ribbon cuttings across a diverse range of industries in Greater Reading.
  • Honored 18 member anniversaries of 5+ years, highlighting strong retention and long-term engagement.
  • Welcomed new and returning Economic Development Investors in support of regional business retention, expansion and attraction efforts. Join the movement>
  • Hosted a Generation Impact networking event to connect emerging talent with the Greater Reading business community. Featuring a panel and one-on-one conversations, the event engaged 28 students and 30 employers. Learn more about talent resources here>
Joseph Boylan, Berks Packing Company, Inc., accepts 50-year GRCA
member anniversary recognition at GRCA’s October Breakfast4Success.

Engage

  • Hosted 13 events with more than 860 attendees. Highlights included:
    • The Annual Picnic at First Energy Stadium, with 350 registered, 13 batters at our Home Run Derby and 16 teams in our 3rd Annual Cornament
    • The bi-annual Building Berks Awards, with a record-breaking 186 registrations and 34 projects nominated Read about the winners>
    • Women2Women hosted a regional networking event bringing in women from Lancaster, York and Harrisburg to the Reading Public Museum
    • Small Businesses learned about training AI to work for them in August and heard from GRCA’s Advocacy Director Alex Roche in September about how to connect with local politicians to further their business
    • Networking events ran the gamut – Power Networking at Vintner’s Table’s outside patio in July, New Castle Lawn & Landscape’s tented bash in August and a tip-off to fall with Gourmand’s food truck and gourmet s’mores in September with Discovery Federal Credit Union. In addition, the Lancaster Stormers invited members to their VIP box to network before a game
GRCA recognized 22 Building Berks Award winners at its biannual event.

Champion

  • Highlighted an average of 185 members per month through marketing channels, including social media, Commerce Quarterly magazine and e-newsletters, increasing visibility for local businesses and reinforcing the organization’s role as the connector for the Greater Reading business community.
  • Digital engagement remained strong across platforms (like, follow, subscribe!):
    • GRCA accounts averaged a 18.4% engagement
    • Meet Greater Reading accounts averaging 23.4%
  • Sent 62 emails to members and community stakeholders to share resources, events, and business success stories, achieving a 34.4% open rate and 4.7% click rate, both well above industry averages.
  • GRCA continued its partnership with Bell Media Group and Lauren Little Photography to showcase the stories of Greater Reading businesses and organizations. Q3 featured TAB Industries and YMCA of Reading & Berks County reaching over 20,000 people via social media and 50,000+ through print. Check out more inspiring stories>
YMCA of Reading & Berks County was featured in GRCA’s member storytelling campaign.

These results and work are made possible by the entire GRCA Team – Mark Dolinski, Leah Fassnacht, Aaron Gantz, Melissa Hassler, Kayla Hayick, Katie Johnsen, Steph Koch, Audrey Krupiak, Anna Lisa, Deb Millman, Alex Roché, Keith Stamm, Lucine Sihelnik, Sally Stewart, Jackie Stiles, Denise Vaquero and Dallan Yoh and interns Julian Collazo and Lane Lannan. Meet the team>

Translate »