GREATER TOGETHER

Here’s a taste of what the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) has been working on in the past couple of months and what’s to come!

Advocacy

The end of 2022 and beginning of 2023 has been filled with getting acquainted with newly elected state and federal officials and tracking the incoming Shapiro/Davis Administration leadership team and its initial policy announcements. Gov. Shapiro’s 202324 Budget presentation in early March will serve as another key indicator of this administration’s policies and priorities.

Efforts to restore passenger rail to Reading are kicking into high gear with the Federal Rail Administration opening the Corridor Development Identification Program. If selected, this program unlocks the potential of billions in federal investment from the Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act and will get us that much closer to intercity passenger rail service.

The Business & Community Advocacy Council (BCAC) is restarting the Policy Committees in 2023. If you were ever interested in getting involved with the BCAC on an issue facing your business, now is the time!

Economic Development

Greater Berks Development Fund (GBDF), an affiliate of the GRCA, is the Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO) for Berks County. As a CEDO, GBDF can offer loans through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA). Rates for the loans are being offered as low as 3.75% and have become more attractive as traditional financing rates continue to increase. PIDA can fund up to 50% of projects, capped at $400,000 for agriculture-related projects. Please contact Shanon Sabanos at 610.898.7761 for more information.

Events & Special Programs

The Events & Special Programs Team has been booking speakers, venues and dates like crazy to prep for a robust 2023. If you haven’t seen the final schedules for the Women2Women and Family Business Alliance programs, you can find them at greaterreading. org. Our goal in 2023 is to have a full quarter’s events available for viewing for our members to plan their schedules accordingly — we know how much you all have going on! And with that, we ask you to save the date for our upcoming signature events. See you soon!

• May 23: Annual Dinner (Speaker announcement coming soon!)

• Aug. 22: Annual Picnic

• Oct. 25: Building Berks Awards

• Nov. 20: Taste of Berks