2025 Year in Review
By Aaron Gantz, Vice President of Economic Development & Strategy
Economic development progress is rarely defined by a single announcement. More often, it shows up through steady investment, long-planned projects reaching key milestones and businesses choosing to reinvest locally.
Throughout 2025, Greater Reading experienced momentum across industrial development, redevelopment planning, housing, arts and culture and private-sector investment. Below is a roundup of some of the most significant and positive economic development stories across Greater Reading, reflecting confidence in the region as a place to build, grow and invest.
Industrial Development & Logistics Investment
Greater Reading/Berks County was prominently featured in Bisnow’s list of the largest industrial groundbreakings in Eastern Pennsylvania in 2025, with two local projects among the top nine regionally. These developments highlight the county’s rising competitiveness in the logistics and industrial market.
Gateway Commerce Center at I-76 (New Morgan / Caernarvon Township)
Panattoni Development Company officially broke ground on the first phase of the Gateway Commerce Center, delivering more than 1.1 million-square-feet of Class A industrial space at the former Bethlehem Steel Grace Mine site near the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The project represents one of the most significant industrial redevelopments in Berks County’s history and is expected to attract logistics, distribution and manufacturing users.
Maiden Creek Crossings (Maidencreek Township)
Wolfson Group broke ground on Maiden Creek Crossings, a 930,000-square-foot warehouse facility that strengthens the Route 222 corridor as a strategic logistics and distribution location within eastern Pennsylvania. The project reflects sustained demand for modern industrial space in well-connected secondary markets.
New Reitnouer Trailers Production Facility (Ontelaunee Township)
Reitnouer Trailers began construction on a $50 million, nearly 500,000-square-foot flatbed trailer production facility at Routes 61 and 73. The project represents a major expansion in advanced manufacturing and adds significant production capacity to Berks County’s industrial base.
East Penn Manufacturing Warehouse (Maidencreek Township)
Berks County-based East Penn Manufacturing is constructing a large new warehouse in Maidencreek Township to support its growing logistics and distribution operations. As a globally recognized battery manufacturer, East Penn’s local expansion reinforces the region’s ability to support established industrial employers.
Industrial Site Redevelopment & Downtown Readiness
Former Glidden Paint Site Moves Toward Redevelopment (City of Reading)
After nearly 15 years of vacancy, the former Glidden Paint site advanced toward redevelopment in 2025. The Berks County Industrial Development Authority acquired the property and initiated environmental and planning work to position the site for future commercial and industrial reuse, marking a critical step in returning a long-dormant industrial property to productive use.
City of Reading Advances Planning for Former Dana Corporation Site
The City of Reading received a $250,000 state grant in 2025 to support redevelopment planning for the 50-acre former Dana Corporation manufacturing site. Funding supports environmental analysis, infrastructure planning and site-readiness efforts, helping position one of Reading’s largest former industrial sites for future private investment and job creation.
Reading’s CRIZ Program Reaches a Key Implementation Milestone
Reading officially established its baseline tax revenue for the City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ). Beginning this year, future state tax growth generated within the zone can be reinvested locally to support redevelopment, infrastructure and catalytic projects.
Commercial, Mixed-Use & Private Investment
Broadcast District Breaks Ground as One of the County’s Largest Private Investments
The $350 million Broadcast District officially broke ground in 2025, launching one of the largest private investments in Berks County’s history. The mixed-use development will bring new retail, dining, housing and public space to the Wyomissing and Spring Township area.
Berkshire Mall Site Positioned for Major Reinvestment
Plans advanced in 2025 to reposition the long-underutilized Berkshire Mall property into a modern, open-air commercial destination. This effort signals renewed interest in reinvestment for one of the county’s most visible retail sites.
Housing Development & Adaptive Reuse
Across Berks County, housing and mixed-use projects moved forward in 2025, responding to workforce needs, infrastructure readiness and opportunities to reinvest in existing buildings. Highlights included:
- The Pointe at Douglassville, a new mixed-use development that adds residential units alongside ground-floor commercial space, supporting walkability and local business activity.
- The BerksIDA closed on a $5 million Tax Increment Financing (TIF) supported housing development in Amity Township, enabling infrastructure improvements for a 338-unit residential project and expanding housing options while growing the tax base.
- The conversion of the historic D.S.W. Hosiery Mill at 1125 Moss St. in Reading into a 55-unit workforce housing complex, a $6 million privately financed adaptive reuse project that preserves historic character while reinvigorating a long-blighted industrial site.
- Approval of the Albright Court Apartments, which will convert a former Albright College dormitory into a 38-unit apartment building, supporting new housing through adaptive reuse of an existing institutional structure.
Downtown Revitalization & Community Investment
Redevelopment of 229 Washington St. Led by Our City Reading
The adaptive reuse of 229 Washington St., led by Our City Reading, advanced in 2025 with community-serving projects coming online, reinforcing the site’s role in downtown revitalization and workforce development:
- Helping Harvest Community Kitchen, which opened as part of the redevelopment to expand food preparation capacity and strengthen regional food access while activating a long-underutilized downtown building.
- BCIU Head Start Learning Center, which opened in September 2025, is expanding early childhood education access in a neighborhood with limited nearby options and supporting long-term workforce development.
Looking back at 2025, the common thread is confidence: companies expanding locally, significant private sector investment, partners investing in long-vacant sites and community-driven redevelopment delivering economic and social impact. Each project stands on its own, but together they show a region building long-term opportunity.
Greater Reading enters 2026 with a strong foundation built on preparation, collaboration and reinvestment, carrying momentum that continues to move the region forward.
Want to learn more about economic development in Greater Reading? Subscribe to GRCA’s Economic Development newsletter.