Economic and Community Development Department

The mission of the Reading Economic and Community Development Department is to implement a comprehensive program to stabilize and expand the local tax and employment base in Reading.

The department works to accomplish its mission in a number of ways. First, it works to attract high tax-generating businesses such as technology and research based sectors. Second, the department supports Reading’s Benson Street Bridal District, a national destination spot featuring approximately forty bridal related businesses including the country’s second largest bridal outlet. Third, the department works to redevelop Reading’s main commercial corridor through the implementation of the 1999 Reading Road Urban Renewal Plan. Finally, the department is working to expand the recently established life sciences campus which is home to Patheon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly Aventis), Girindus America and the University of Cincinnati Genome Research Institute. The campus is part of Governor Bob Taft’s “Third Frontier” initiative which established the City of Reading as a life sciences hub in the Greater Cincinnati region.

The department works hand in hand with the Reading Chamber of Commerce, Reading Business Roundtable and Reading Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) to implement its economic and community development plans.

The Reading Chamber of Commerce is a professional organization dedicated to business and community development in Reading. The group meets monthly except during the summer. The chamber publishes a newsletter for all Reading businesses. To find out more about the Reading Chamber see their Web site www.readingohiochamber.org.

The Reading Business Roundtable was formed in August 1997. It is a consortium of representatives and leaders from Reading’s seven largest employers, the Reading Chamber of Commerce, Reading city government and Reading Community Schools. The Roundtable meets quarterly to discuss the City’s current efforts in the area of economic development and to offer suggestions and support to implement Reading’s economic development programs. The Roundtable funded the development and continued implementation of the 2001 City of Reading Community Marketing Plan prepared by Della Rucker and Linda Fitzgerald.

The Reading Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) was incorporated in June 1975 to assist the City in attracting new businesses and retaining those businesses already operating in Reading. As the City’s designated agency for industrial, commercial, office and research development, the goal of the CIC is to increase and stabilize the local tax base. Click here to find out more about the Reading Community Improvement Corporation.

The Department of Economic and Community Development has a number of tax and financial incentive programs. Click here to find out more about the Tax and Financial Incentive Programs.

If you have any questions, you may contact Linda Fitzgerald of LSR Consultants at lindalsrconsult@gmail.com or
(513) 543-7203.