6C — July 13 - 26, 2012 — Pennsylvania — Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal
www.marejournal.com
E ASTERN PA
By Pamela Shupp, Greater Reading Economic Partnership Greater Reading Economic Partnership “Be something greater”
S
ome internal stakehold- ers have asked us why we changed our name
matters. It matters in both the attraction of new compa- nies and the retention and
tween profit and loss, growth and downsizing, success and failure.
any available online search engine. Therefore, transitioning to
In standard practice, com- panies search for business locations by cities rather than counties. Not many folks know the names of the county in which well known cities are located - but they know the name of the city. Phoenix, Arizona for example, is located inMaricopa County. Orlando, Florida is located in Orange County. Seattle, Washington in Kings County. Who knew? Best practice economic development agencies use search engines and compre- hensive professional data- base sources to snapshot the demographics, business and geography of their region as delineated by metropolitan or core-based statistical areas named by their urban core. Site selection and market re- search experts employ these methodologies and others to identify sites, weigh radius data on industry clusters and target markets. As we know, there are always new ways to slice and dice statistical data. Therefore, the key reason for the name change to the Greater Reading Economic Partnership was pinpoint- ing our location in global geography - and best prac- tice standards for statistical methodology. Our primary mission as GREP is to attract, retain and grow business by vigor- ously promoting fostering and growing economic develop- ment in Great Reading. Our product is Greater Reading and we are focused on keeping business here, stimulating local entrepreneurship and attracting new industries to our community. That’s why we want people to find us. Peter Strople, Founder of Zero 2 Ventures put it this way. “Great people make great companies and great companies make great com- munities and great communi- ties can change the world”. Let’s be something greater. Pamela Shupp, AICP, CEcD vice president , Greater Reading Econom- ic Partnership. Shupp is a native of Reading, and received a bachelor’s degree in Pub- lic Administration and Urban and Regional Plan- ning from Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA. ■
f r o m t h e Berks Eco- nomic Part- nership to the Greater Reading Eco- nomic Part- nership and we wanted to share one of the key rea- sons.
“In the world of economic development, global location matters. It matters in both the attraction of new companies and the retention and growth of companies who already call this region home. For companies who seek suppliers and networks to move goods and services - being in the right geographic location creates the difference between profit and loss, growth and downsizing, success and failure.”
Pamela Shupp
growth of companies who already call this region home. For companies who seek sup- pliers and networks to move goods and services - being in the right geographic location creates the difference be-
It can be argued that the terms Berks County or Great- er Reading are interchange- able - as we know they are - however Greater Reading can more easily be found on the world stage by using
the name Greater Reading becomes a pragmatic choice, provides our best shot at be- ing considered for new busi- ness location projects and enhances our competitive advantage on the globe.
Global Geography and Statistics In the world of economic development, global location
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Be something greater.
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