Reading, Pa. – The Greater Berks Development Fund (GBDF), an affiliate of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA), is pleased to announce that it has helped secure a $310,000 Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) loan for Jeremy and Joanna Martin and their sons Jeremiah and Shane.
The Martins requested PIDA financing to purchase the farm located at 529 Ridge Road in Shoemakersville.
GBDF, Berks County’s only Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO), facilitated the PIDA loan in conjunction with funding provided by First Citizens Community Bank.
“The PIDA loan, with its attractive interest rate and terms, helped to make our project feasible and we appreciate the assistance of GBDF,” the Martins said.
GBDF’s mission includes support of the agriculture industry, a critical economic driver in Berks County.
“We are pleased to be able to assist the Martins with their project, as the provision of financial assistance to the agricultural community is a strong component of the County of Berk’s recommendations under its ‘Growing Berks: Agriculture’s Economic Impact and a Roadmap for its Future’ study that was released earlier this year,” said Debra L. Millman, President of GBDF.
For more information on the PIDA program, please contact Kayla Hayick, Director of Lending and Business Outreach at khayick@greaterreading.org or 610.698.2703.