Greater Reading has a progressive, business-oriented community with a vision for the future. It is focused on creating new opportunities for growth and enabling greater possibilities. Visionary thinkers, entrepreneurs and pioneers have always been attracted to Greater Reading.

1. Succeeding as a Latino Business Owner
in International Trade & Innovation
October 3, 2013
Pamela Shupp, AICP, CEcD
Vice President
Greater Reading Economic Partnership

2. Greater Reading Economic Partnership (GREP) markets
Berks County to attract business to our region and works with
existing businesses to make sure they stay here and grow.
Our mission is to attract, retain and grow businesses in
Greater Reading. We align businesses with opportunities to
help them be something greater.
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Who is GREP and what do we do?

3. Greater Reading, PA
• Population: 413,000 and growing
• Population growth: 9.7%
• Diverse population:
– Berks County 16.4% Latino
– City of Reading 60% Latino
o 88,000 people
• Over 400 companies are headquartered in Greater
Reading
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4. Greater Reading Major Companies

5. Greater Reading, PA:
Internationally Owned Companies
– Australia
– Belgium
– Canada
– Denmark
– England
– France
– Germany
– Ireland
– Israel
– Japan
– Lebanon
– Mexico
– Netherlands
– Spain
– Sweden
– Turkey
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• Over 70+ companies internationally owned, representing:

6. Greater Reading is also home to many small &
entrepreneurial women-owned businesses
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7. Why Greater Reading?
• Over 100 million people within an overnight’s drive
• Reliable electric grid
• Low risk for natural disasters
• Good management relations
• Competitive wage manufacturing
• Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 147
• Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZ)
• Convenient access to major Northeast markets
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8. New and Expanding Companies:
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Birdsboro Kosher Farms

9. • Saucony Creek Brewing is a craft brewery that has
taken off on the social media scene with products that are
pre-ordered and can’t be produced fast enough to meet
demand.
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Resources

11. • The World Trade Center Harrisburg serves companies in central
Pennsylvania by:
– promoting global trade and delivering relevant educational programs,
– up-to-date trade information
– practical trade assistance
– research & referral services for their members and clients to help them compete
and prosper in a global economy.
• The organization is a licensed member of the World Trade Centers
Association and the regional coordinator for Pennsylvania’s free export
assistance services.
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Tina Weyant , Executive Director
tina@wtccentralpa.org
(717) 843.1090 ext 246

12. Foreign Trade Zone 147
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• Customs duties are not paid on merchandise exported from a zone
• Delays in customs clearances and duty drawback are reduced or
eliminated
• Spare parts may be stored, returned, or destroyed without duty
payment

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Foreign Trade Zone 147

14. Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZ)
• Over 250 acres of tax free zones - many with benefits through
2023 and in strategic locations with ease of highway access and
high visibility.
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16. How do you keep up on all these resources?
• Most important is to get connected and stay connected.
• Get Social! LinkedIn, FB, Twitter, Pinterest, Blog,
FourSquare, YouTube, Flickr…
• Whatever way you are comfortable receiving and
communicating your message – you can’t communicate
enough!
• Build relationships
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17. Websites You Need to Visit
• GreaterReading.com
– Information about general resources, support and KOZ
• FTZ147.com
– Information about Foreign Trade Zone 147
• WTCCentralPA.org
– Information about exporting and trade assistance
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18. Connect with Us!
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Facebook.com/GreaterReadingEconomicPartnership
Groups and Companies:
Greater Reading Economic Partnership
@GreaterReading
Logon to: GreaterReading.com

19. We are committed to growing companies.
Contact Information:
GreaterReading.com
(610) 376.4237
Pamela@GreaterReading.com
Deb@GreaterReading.com
Deb Heffner,
Economic Development
Coordinator
Pamela J. Shupp,
Vice President