Reading Railroad is Coming Back with Lucine Sihelnik

Lucine Sihelnik, the First Female President and CEO of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA), discusses the economic development landscape and exciting future projects in Berks County. She shares insights about significant changes in the business community and explains how GRCA is breaking the traditional chamber (of commerce) model with 900 members while many chambers nationwide are struggling.• GRCA formed eight years ago by combining three organizations: Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce, Greater Brooks Development Fund, and Greater Reading Economic Partnership• Reading's housing crisis requires comprehensive solutions beyond first-time buyer incentives—new construction and creative repurposing of existing properties are needed• Passenger rail service expected to return (Reading Railroad) within five years, with the station located at the original Franklin Station• Reading, PA offers higher competitive wages than surrounding counties, especially in manufacturing• Major employers include East Penn Manufacturing, Amazon, Reading Hospital, and Giant Food Stores• Family-owned businesses like Redner's Markets (employee-owned) play significant roles in the local economy• "Meet Greater Reading" campaign highlights individuals who relocated to Reading to help with workforce development and talent retention• Downtown revitalization efforts focus on mixed-use development near the future train stationVisit greaterreading.org for information about GRCA's 70+ annual events and initiatives. ---Welcome to The Brad Weisman Show, where we dive into the world of real people, real life, and everything in between with your host, Brad Weisman! 🎙️ Join us for candid conversations, laughter, and a fresh take on the real world. Get ready to explore the ups and downs of life with a side of humor. From property to personality, we've got it all covered. Tune in, laugh along, and let's get real! 🏡🌟 #TheBradWeismanShow #RealPeopleRealLife  Credits - The music for my podcast was written and performed by Jeff Miller.