Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Summer 2017 - 60

member news: industry & community newsmakers
The
Pennsylvania
Industrial
Development Authority approved a
$1.93 million loan to assist the Greater Berks Development Fund (GBDF) with
the purchase and development of a $2.6 million 22-acre industrial park at the
intersection of Routes 61 and 73 in Ontelaunee Township. Debra Millman, Director
of Business Development - GBDF, was able to get to closing and loan disbursement
by the end of May, an unbelievably short period of time.
The Langan LaunchBox project is an
initiative from Penn State and Penn
State Health St. Joseph, giving students,
entrepreneurs and area Penn State
experts a place to collaborate and create.
The LaunchBox comes via $50,000 in
funding to Penn State Berks from Penn
State University's Invent Penn State
fund. The goal is to inspire innovation,
entrepreneurship and partnerships
throughout
Pennsylvania.
The
LaunchBox houses the "Be Bold, Take
Charge" initiative that brings together
Penn State Berks faculty and students and the health system's clinical staff to
work on health projects in Reading. Students and staff are looking to bring a pilot
grocery store that sells fresh foods and vegetables in the city. Providing patients
with fruit and vegetable vouchers to get produce from local farmers is another idea.
The LaunchBox is part of a larger initiative happening at the downtown campus. St.
Joseph officials are looking to renovate and update the campus at Sixth and Walnut
that formerly housed Community General Hospital. GRCEDC President/CEO, Randy
Peers, was a part of their recent ribbon cutting.
The GSA announced a Lease Award for 35,721 RSF to the Greater Berks
Development Fund (GBDF) for the Gateway Building. Wayne G. White, Director of
Real Estate and Special Projects - GBDF, has remained the point on this project
over the past several years, leading it to successful completion.

(Renderings courtesy of Spillman Farmer Architects and World Cycling League.)
In addition to permanent spectator seating around the track, amenities will include
a trackside bar/restaurant; sky boxes for corporate partners and season ticket
holders; leased space for specialty businesses; team, club and locker rooms; and
storage areas under the track for bicycles, specialty flooring and temporary seating.
The building will also have wi-fi and livestream capability throughout. Spillman
Farmer Architects of Bethlehem and the Burkey Group of Reading have been
chosen to design and build the $20 million National Velodrome and Events Center
at Albright College.
Oswalds Mill Audio (OMA) was founded in 2007 and manufactures high end
audio equipment, which includes stereo speakers, turntables, amplifiers, cables,
and stereo cabinets. The Greater Berks Development Fund assisted OMA with
a $285,000 loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA).
The loan will help the company with the acquisition and renovation of a 44,000 SF
building at 26 East Locust Street in Fleetwood, bringing more business to Berks!
South Heidelberg Township was recently
awarded with being one of the Top 20
Safest Cities in Pennsylvania - ranking #5
on the list!

Designs of the first indoor velodrome on the East Coast have been released just two
months after World Cycling League (WCL) and Albright College announced their
partnership with the Reading community to develop the facility on a site owned by
the college. The National Velodrome at Albright College will be a 2,500-seat, hightech cycling arena designed to host World Cycling League tournaments, year-round
cycling programs, pre-Olympic training camps and events, collegiate activities and
a variety of other sporting events and special programs. It will be the first world
class indoor velodrome east of the Mississippi and only the 2nd of its kind in the
U.S. With cycling booming in Berks County, throughout the country and on college
campuses, Greater Reading and Albright will now be significant players on the
world stage of cycling enthusiasts and fans.

Reading Recreation Commission and The Friends of Reading Hospital were
recognized for Excellence in Recreation and Parks by the Pennsylvania Recreation
and Park Society (PRPS) at their annual awards banquet held at the Hershey Lodge,
Hershey, PA this spring. The Reading Recreation Commission won two awards
this year - one was for the most prestigious award "Agency of the Year" and the
second, "Out-of-School Food, Nutrition, and Healthy Lifestyle Program" that was in
partnership with The Friends of Reading Hospital.

60 COMMERCE QUARTERLY SUMMER 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Summer 2017