The City of Reading is home to more than 95,000 residents, making it the fourth most populous city in Pennsylvania. With more than 660,000 people within a 20-mile radius and convenient access to Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and New York, Reading offers big-city connectivity with a lower cost of living and operating environment.
Momentum continues to build in Downtown Reading. The City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ), ongoing investment by Shuman Development Group, Alvernia University’s CollegeTowne at 4th and Penn Streets and the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts Art Park expansion are helping to shape the next chapter of growth.
The City of Reading and its economic development partners work directly with developers to identify opportunities that align with project goals and provide coordinated support from concept through completion.
Why Reading
Downtown Reading offers big-market access with a cost structure and partnership environment that helps projects move.
Market Scale & Activity
Cost Advantage & Affordability
→ Lower operating costs for employers and more attainable housing for workforce attraction.
Investment Momentum
Over the past decade, Downtown Reading has experienced sustained public and private investment across housing, mixed-use, education, arts and commercial development—demonstrating long-term confidence and continued momentum.
What Business & Community Leaders are Saying
“Shuman Development Group started redeveloping properties in Downtown Reading in 1994 and in 2008 did a comprehensive study of cities all along the eastern half of the Country, from Mobile, Alabama all the way up to Buffalo, New York. What we determined was that no other city on the East Coast could match the upside potential of properly done investments in the City of Reading. We see the momentum starting to grow and continue to make those investments we began 25 years ago.”
Alan W. Shuman
President and Broker of Record, Shuman Development Group
“As a small business owner and developer, we chose to invest our time, energy and future in the City of Reading. The strong sense of community, expanding customer base and collaborative partnership with the city’s administration make it a place we proudly call home for our growing business.”
Leopoldo Sanchez
Owner, Super Natural Produce I & II
“Downtown Reading has been part of our story since day one. Our decision to extend our headquarters lease reflects long-term confidence in the city’s continued revitalization. We value being located close to our clients, employees and partners, and are proud to continue investing in a community that has supported our growth for more than forty-five years.”
Robert Weir, PE
President, Entech Engineering
Incentives & Development Support
City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ)
The CRIZ state program is designed to stimulate economic development and job creation within designated zones. These zones capture and reinvest state and local taxes generated within them to support various economic development projects. CRIZ zones encompass up to 130 acres and are selected based on their potential to generate significant economic improvements. A portion of state and local taxes generated by businesses in the Zone are redirected to the Reading CRIZ Authority. These funds are then used to support the following types of economic development initiatives in the Zone:
Mixed-Use Development
Adaptive Reuse
The City of Reading and its economic development partners work directly with developers to identify and layer local, state, federal and private financing tools. Coordinated guidance is provided from early concept through project completion.
Potential Funding Sources
City of Reading Program
Loans
Potential Funding Sources
Tax Credits/Others
Development Support Team
Developers are not expected to navigate these tools alone. The City and its partners provide:
- A coordinated One Stop process
- Incentive navigation and guidance
- Connections to lenders and program partners
- A clear point of contact from concept through completion
View the Full Investment Playbook
Ready to explore Reading?
- Schedule an introductory call with the City of Reading’s Director of Community Development, David Barr at david.barr@readingpa.gov.
- Review available opportunities in the City of Reading
- Set up a site visit
*Data reflects the most recent available estimates from local, state and national sources.