Articles of Interest in Economic Development for Greater Reading 2013 Quarter 1

GREATER READING ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP • GREATER READING, PA • (610) 376.4237

Andrew (L) and Thomas Brizek (R) of TAB Industries, LLC in front of the TAB Wrapper Tornado

Greater Reading, Pennsylvania has a heritage where great things happen. This community is focused on creating new opportunities for growth and enabling greater possibilities. 2012 was no exception and proved to be an outstanding year for both job attraction and job retention in the Greater Reading-Berks County region. One of the most significant stories

involved the development and subsequent successful culmination of businesses deciding to locate at Berks Park 78 in Bethel Township. The Berks County Industrial Development Authority (BCIDA), under the stewardship of Executive Director Tom McKeon, was successful in attracting both Dollar General and Pet Smart to their warehouse and distribution location along Rt. 78 in Bethel Township. Collectively, these two (2) projects alone will result in over 1,100 new jobs for our region, and a third parcel is under consideration by other prospective tenants.

We have also witnessed a strong trend in the past year in small manufacturers expanding, either in place or by finding a new location. So far in 2013, we have seen seven (7) companies expand or locate to Berks County resulting in 218 jobs being retained in Berks and over 374 new jobs created. These companies primarily represent the manufacturing sector in which we have continued to see the largest growth of new jobs.

So the good news is that many of the vacant industrial spaces in Berks County are being occupied. It’s also the challenging news. The space that companies are seeking has presented some challenges in terms of finding the right space. We are searching more diligently than ever to locate appropriate space for businesses to locate and grow. We are currently working with a developer to bring a new industrial park on line in 2013 that would provide over 2 million square feet of new industrial and warehouse space. This would make a significant positive impact on our lack of industrial inventory. GREP continues to work with seven (7) other economic development organizations in following through on initiatives and efforts outlined by the Ride to Prosperity document which was unveiled in June, 2010. In June 2013, the group will collectively share successful strategies and accomplishments of this joint initiative over the past three (3) years. We will also outline the areas of focus and attention for the next three (3) years as we work collectively to make our region be something greater.

Jon Scott President and CEO

CeLeBraTinG 10 years of suCCessGREP achieves 10 year benchmark

Greater Reading Economic Partnership (GREP) is an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) that is recognized by our peers as a leader in the industry. The GREP team consists of high energy, passionate individuals who live in and love our community. The team works daily to drive economic development by attracting new companies to our region, helping existing businesses grow and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to bring their dreams to life so the residents and

surrounding community can be something greater.

In the past ten years, the nonprofit organization has made over 5,500+ contacts, which resulted in more than 1,000+ prospects and leads, which turned into over 120+ projects that have brought more than 10,300+ jobs to the Greater Reading region. GREP has also been instrumental in the creation of a number of successful initiatives such as: The Ride to Prosperity, Careers in 2 Years, The Penn Corridor Initiative and the Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ).

Thanks to a lot of hard work and the supportive business community here in Greater Reading, the Greater Reading Economic Partnership has enjoyed many successes over the past ten years.

hoT projeCT TAB Industries, LLC

Greater Reading Economic Partnership is pleased to welcome the relocation and expansion of TAB Industries, LLC to Greater Reading, Pennsylvania in Muhlenberg Township. TAB Industries is located on the former Lucent Technologies campus, now the Stone Pointe Business Center (2525 N 12th Street Reading, PA 19605). This new location will support the company’s continual growth now and into the future.

The transaction was led by Century 21 Park Road realtor, Rob Kearney. Kearney introduced Tom Brizek, President and CEO, TAB Industries, LLC to the 43,000 square foot detached warehouse space at the Stone Pointe Business Center campus. The property is managed by Audubon Land Development.

“We are thrilled to relocate our operations to Greater Reading. We are looking forward to our continued growth in our home community.” –Tom Brizek, President & CEO, TAB Industries, LLC.

TAB Industries started primarily as a distributor of steel doors and frame systems with two (2) employees in a 2,000 square foot garage. This diversified company has since expanded to twenty (20) employees, and their lines of business now include warehousing, manufacturing, trucking and most recently the production of the TAB Wrapper Tornado (patent pending).

The TAB Wrapper has reduced TAB Industries time for packaging and damage claims to almost nothing while gaining the attention of customers from all over the globe. With plans to set up an assembly line to mass produce the TAB Wrapper Tornado, the company’s current

workforce of twenty (20) is projected to continue to grow over the next year.

“Greater Reading Economic Partnership (GREP) has continued to work with us throughout our relocation process which has helped make for a smooth transition. GREP has been our constant ally through ongoing negotiations with various customers to bring more work to TAB Industries and the Reading, PA area.” –Tom Brizek, President & CEO, TAB Industries, Inc.

PRESIDENT & CEO’S MESSAGE

GreaterReading.com

eConomiC deveLopmenT Trendsin GreaTer readinG

New Morgan Business Park offers access to markets, hubs and major cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic—all at an affordable price.

Close proximity to Interstate 176 and 76 Interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Exit#298)

fasT faCTs:

Zoning: Industrial

Utilities:• Public water – substantial quantities available• Public sewer capacity available• UGI gas – located on Rt. 10• PP&L Electric – substation at the property

Labor pool available from the following PA Counties:• Lancaster• Berks• Chester• Montgomery• Schuylkill

GreaterReading.com

The year of 2012 was a successful one for the Greater Reading community and the Greater Reading Economic Partnership (GREP). Not only did the organization celebrate ten years, but we are able to celebrate eleven successful projects in 2012. These projects have generated almost 2,500+ jobs for the region, with a significant majority of those jobs being new to the area.

While GREP has continued to focus on working with existing Greater Reading companies, many of the larger projects over the last 12 months have involved companies that are new to the area due to Greater Reading’s strategic location, diverse workforce and lower cost of doing business.

In 2012 the Board of Directors determined that the organization should focus on three primary strategies and in 2013 we are staying the course.

• Increased organizational awareness to our internal stakeholders and business community

• Existing business growth and retention• Increased coordination and collaboration

with our economic development partners

I am pleased with the results that we have seen over the last year and while there is always work to be done, the GREP team—staff, Board of Directors, Investors and Supporters—are all committed to making Greater Reading be something greater.

Jeffrey RushBoard Chairperson

President, Fulton Bank Great Valley Division

Berks park 78 wins BesT of 2012 The 2012 land sales at Berks Park 78 recognized by the Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal

The MAREJ Best of 2012 was a juried competition of submissions and nominations from their readership. Winners were selected based upon the size of the deal or project submitted. To qualify, projects or firms must be located in the Mid-Atlantic region, specifically the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and Maryland.

Under the leadership of BCIDA Executive Director Thomas McKeon, the $22,190,000 sale of two pad sites, totaling almost two-million square feet, at Berks Park 78 in Bethel Township, Pennsylvania was completed in 2012. The two sites will be home to two large distribution centers for national chains, Dollar General and PetSmart—both Fortune 500 companies.

Dollar General and PetSmart are investing over $150 million at Berks Park 78 and combined are expected to create over 1,100 jobs. Dollar General plans to construct a 900,000 square foot facility and PetSmart plans to construct an 870,000 square foot facility. Both distribution centers are expected to be completed in early 2014.

“We’re thrilled to win this award and could not have asked for stronger or more prominent companies to anchor Berks Park 78,” said Tom McKeon, BCIDA Executive Director. “The Dollar General and PetSmart commitments have proven what we’ve known all along. We are on the map as one of the best logistics locations in the Mid-Atlantic states.”

The nexT 10

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GreaterReading.comto view our propert ies

“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” - Simon Sinek

206 acres of approved keystone opportunity Zone Land

why koZ?• Reduced or abated state and local

taxes.• State Taxes:

• Corporate Net Income Taxes• Capital Stock & Foreign Franchise Tax• Personal Income Tax• Sales & Use Tax includes:

• Goods & services used or consumed in KOZ

• Telephone & eclectic service

• Local Taxes:• Local Real Property Tax• Sales & Use Tax• Earned Income/Net Profits Tax• Business Gross Receipts• Business Occupancy• Business Privilege & Mercantile Taxes

• Projects in KOZs receive priority consideration for assistance under state community & economic development programs as well as community building initiatives.

• Projects in designated KOZs that are approved for PA Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) receive the lowest interest rate extended to borrowers.

The GREP Team at the 10 Year Anniversary Celebration

PA Senator Judith Schwank at the GREP 10 Year Anniversary Celebration with Jeffrey Rush and Jon Scott

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

GREATER READING ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP • GREATER READING, PA • (610) 376.4237

w h a t t h e y a r e s a y i n g . . .

LoCaL CommuniTy CoLLeGe joins sTaTewide joB TraininG iniTiaTiveA statewide initiative will help provide critical training to displaced workers in PA

The program, JobTrakPA, will use fast and affordable retraining to help PA’s displaced workers regain employment in today’s high-demand industries. JobTrakPA was made possible by a $20 million Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training (TAACCCT) grant awarded to the colleges last fall.

“Pennsylvania employers tell us that they have jobs waiting for workers with career-specific skills in several high-growth industries,” said Dr. Alex Johnson, president of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges and president of the Community College of Allegheny County. “Community colleges are part of a nationwide effort to provide a new skill-set to our workforce that will create career pathways for qualified workers in the shortest possible time.”

Currently, there are 15,000 TAA-eligible workers in Pennsylvania. The colleges, along with Pennsylvania CareerLink, are coordinating efforts to reach those workers and connect them to JobTrakPA for retraining and re-employment.

Three high-growth, in-demand industries have been identified as priorities by the colleges. Training in these industries will be offered throughout the state, but will vary by regional needs:

• Advanced Manufacturing;• Energy Distribution, Production and Conservation; and• Healthcare Information Technology

Each of the industries is projected to grow substantially over the next few years.

Local Workforce Investment Boards project that there will be 4,800 job openings in advanced manufacturing in the coming years; in the industry of energy distribution, production and conservation over 32,000 job openings are expected by 2016, according to the Pennsylvania Green Jobs Survey Report; and in healthcare information technology, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry estimates there will be more than 9,000 job openings by 2016.

In addition to offering training, the community colleges have hired dedicated staff to help ensure students are successful at completing their courses. Following completion, staff will provide job placement assistance. The community colleges have already developed relationships with local employers who are ready to hire students who complete JobTrakPA training.

Additional information about JobTrakPA can be found at www.JobTrakPA.com.

invesTor spoTLiGhT Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.4 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in more than 35 countries to support the bank’s customers who conduct business in the global economy. With more than 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune’s 2012 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially.

With 17 community banking stores across Berks County, Wells Fargo employs approximately 500 team members in the market and has its Central Pennsylvania

regional headquarters at 600 Penn Street in Reading.

We thank Wells Fargo for being an Investor in Greater Reading Economic Partnership.

“The Greater Reading Economic Partnership (GREP) team shows great pr ide in what Greater Reading has to offer. I t has been our s incere pleasure to work with the GREP team. Their hospital i ty and wi l l ingness to go the extra mi le is second to none. Al l of us at TAB Industr ies, LLC would l ike to thank the GREP for making our relocation to the Reading, PA area a pleasant one. We are truly appreciat ive of al l their efforts .”

—Thomas A. Br izek, Pres ident /CEO, TAB Industr ies, LLC

“Greater Reading Economic Partnership (GREP) faci l i tated connections with the World Trade Center (WTC) of Harr isburg and Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 147. We appreciate their ass istance with our t rade inquir ies as we worked toward potent ial cost savings.”

—Dan Casciano, Pres ident & CEO, GK El i te Sportswear

Roger Schmidt, E.J. Breneman and Steven Schumacher with Jon ScottThank you for 10 years of service to GREP

Thomas Brizek, TAB Industries, LLC speaking at the GREP Annual Meeting

GreaterReading.com

Greater Reading Economic Partnership201 Penn StreetSuite 502Reading, PA 19601

• GREP Celebrates 10 Years of Success

• Hot Project: TAB Industries, LLC

• Featured Property: New Morgan Business Park

• Berks Park 78 Wins “Best of 2012”

• Investor Spotlight: Wells Fargo

d i d y o u k n o w• GREP has worked with over 120+

companies, resulting in 10,300+ jobs

• GREP is on a variety of social media platforms—connect with us!

• Facebook: Greater Reading Economic Partnership

• Twitter : @GreaterReading

• Blog: Blog.GreaterReading.com

Careers in 2 years wins award

NEDA awards Careers in 2 Years with “Best of Show”

The Careers In 2 Years campaign was awarded “Best of Show” by the Northeastern Economic Developers Association (NEDA).Entries for the NEDA 2012 Annual Literature & Promotions

Competition were accepted from all members of the economic development industry and were judged on design and layout, clarity of message, production quality, functionality and overall creativity and impact. Careers In 2 Years was recognized as “Best of Show” by a panel of judges which included economic development and marketing professionals from throughout the NEDA territory.

Each entry has four potential levels of recognition within a category: Best in Class which is awarded once in each category, Superior, Excellent and Merit. The “Best of Show” award is given to one entry annually across all categories, making this award especially prestigious. This award was presented at the NEDA Annual Conference on October 29, 2012 in Hartford, CT.

“We are honored to receive this award for this very important workforce development marketing campaign. Because this is reviewed by our economic development peers, this reaffirms our focus and direction on this initiative in Greater Reading, PA,” said Aaron Costenbader, Marketing Manager of GREP.

Be Something Greater

Greater Reading Economic Partnership is accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

w h a t ’ s i n s i d e

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