Chester County Economic Development Council Brochure

Dear Friend,

It is our pleasure to introduce you to the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), an independent not-for-profit organization that has been advancing smart economic growth and prosperity in southeastern Pennsylvania for more than 60 years.

The term “economic development” can mean different things to different people. Some hear “economic” and think of financial activity for government or large corporations – focused on bank loans, interest rates, or dreaded closing costs. Others hear “development” and picture bulldozers, construction sites, and cranes reaching to the sky.

If this publication conveys one message, we hope it is this: to us, economic development is more than moving dirt and making financial transactions. It is about serving people.

Economic development means preserving and enhancing the quality of life in our communities. It means training individuals with the skills they need to earn a living and support their families; advising small businesses so they can serve customers, hire employees, and add to the fabric of the region; revitalizing abandoned lots so they can be put to new and better use for their neighborhoods; enabling young people to explore a variety of career options and preparing them for the paths they choose; and much more.

We invite you to read on to see specific examples of how our collective work – from business financing, to workforce development, to real estate services and entrepreneurial support – is rooted in a desire to serve others and measured by the lasting impact these efforts make in people’s lives.

Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to your continued partnership.

Gary W. Smith CEO

Michael Grigalonis President and COO

From our roots as a farming community, to the booming business region we are today, the Chester County Economic Development Council is here to serve.

A local family utilized a tax-exempt Next Generation Farmer Loan to purchase a dairy, crop and tobacco farm in Lincoln University, PA.

1960s

. . . Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) incorporated on December 23, 1960.

Chester County Commissioners authorized the creation of the Chester County Industrial Development Authority, which issues billions of dollars in tax exempt loans that fueled much of Chester County's growth in the 70s and 80s. .

CCEDC timeline

1970s

Gary W. Smith is hired in 1976 as assistant director and then named executive director in 1978. He currently serves as CEO.

CCEDC offers services that provide data highlighting the advantages of Chester County and works with municipalities to strategically zone their communities.

1980s

. . CCEDC forms a Small Business Development Company in 1983 to administer SBA loans. This entity is now known as Seedcopa and serves clients throughout the Commonwealth.

In 1989, CCEDC forms the Business and Industry Chamber of Chester County, the first county-wide chamber. It later was spun off as a separate entity, becoming the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry.

1990s

. . CCEDC is the first “traditional” economic development organization in PA to offer a comprehensive agricultural development program. Michael Grigalonis is hired in 1999 as a program manager and was promoted to COO five years later. He currently serves as President and COO.

2000s

CCEDC conducts its first-ever capital campaign for the construction of its new offices at 737 Constitution Drive in Exton. Due to overwhelming goodwill in the community, the goal is far exceeded, allowing the organization to implement new workforce initiatives.

Four Industry Partnerships (IPs) are created to serve the agriculture, energy, healthcare and technology sectors. Manufacturing is added as a fifth IP a few years later.

CCEDC launches its Investor Program allowing the private sector a new platform to support smart economic growth

2010s

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CCEDC launches the Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n) to assist early-stage technology and innovation companies in Chester and Delaware Counties.

STEM Innovation youth programming grows to include summer career academies and enhanced hands-on career exploration activities.

Seedcopa expands to offer its services throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and into Delaware.

2020s

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CCEDC adjusts operations to process more than 1,500 grant and loan awards to assist businesses affected by the pandemic.

Girls Exploring Tomorrow's Technology (GETT) celebrates its 20th anniversary of introducing young women to careers in STEM fields.

CCEDC adopts a comprehensive DE&I plan, creates the New Business Champions Program and opens the Business Resource Center in Coatesville to serve minority- and women-owned businesses.

Pennsylvania Catalyst Loan Fund is established to offer small-balance loans, with a priority placed on Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI) borrowers.

our core services

We are a private, non-governmental entity that serves the economic needs of the region by promoting business and community prosperity while preserving the region’s quality of life. We do this by supporting business in four key areas: Location Services, Financing Solutions, Workforce Development, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Through these efforts, we not only assist the business community but also enhance the quality of life for those who live in our area. Our services are administered through a variety of industry partnerships, affiliate organizations, and initiatives.

Financing Solutions

Workforce Development

Location Services

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

capital doesn’t have to be complicated

Issue: Hiring employees, purchasing inventory, buying a building, upgrading equipment – it all costs money that can be hard to come by. Every business needs capital, but a lot of business owners do not know how to get it.

Idea: What if small business owners did not have to become experts – overnight – on dozens of diverse loan programs from hundreds of lenders? What if there were a place where specialists in all forms of business financing operated under one roof, so business owners could explore all their options with support and guidance?

Impact: Since 1983, CCEDC and its SBA lending affiliate, Seedcopa, have approved 766 loans totaling $595,578,000. Those loans have served a range of borrowers, from Fortune 500 companies to main street mom and pop shops. CCEDC offers financing programs with below-market interest rates that include the SBA 504, 7a, and Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (IDA) loans. In fact, since 1967, the IDAs have issued more than $2 billion in tax-exempt financing. Working with a CCEDC specialist, business owners can pinpoint their options in 30 minutes or less.

Malvern-based Cenero provides AV, communications, and IT solutions for meeting experiences nationwide. When they wanted to improve their own space, Cenero turned to Seedcopa to assist with a below-market interest rate to purchase land and construct a 36,000-square-foot office building and warehouse. Now the local company with a national footprint is performing better than ever at its headquarters in Chester County, PA.

workforce of tomorrow

Issue: Developing the next generation of talent takes time – even decades. How do we grow the workforce of tomorrow, reach underserved communities, and prepare them to fill the high-priority occupations your business requires? Where are the next healthcare workers, educators, scientists, and innovators?

Idea:

CCEDC focuses on next-gen workforce development so you don’t have to. Leveraging public and private funding, we bring together leading private sector employers to tell us what their needs are, then connect them directly with youth to be inspired and educated. The result is an extraordinary suite of resources that ensure young people have the career awareness and work-ready coaching they need for fulfilling paths in growing sectors like advanced manufacturing, agriculture, energy, healthcare, information technology, and so much more.

Impact: In the past 20 years, CCEDC programs enabled more than 50,000 young people to see themselves in careers where there may be a shortage of role models, but plenty of opportunity. Since 2001, more than 10,000 young women have attended Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology, and thousands more have participated in our Summer Career Academies, the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” student video contest, business tour showcases, and Career Connection Academies reaching students from all backgrounds.

Over the past 20 years, more than 10,000 young women have attended the annual Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology (GETT) event, which provides them with hands-on STEM experiences.

location, location, location

Issue: Chester County is a great place to do business, but finding a site that is appropriately zoned for your use and meets your site selection criteria can still be a challenge. Whether it’s a purchase or lease, corporate park or main street, decision makers need local experts to assist with finding the best options to meet operational and organizational needs.

Idea: What if there was a local, independent resource for all your site selection needs? One that has a history of helping to find the right location for a new plant, a headquarters building, expanded manufacturing facilities, back office and shared-space opportunities, or R&D centers? CCEDC does all this, working in all 73 municipalities across Chester County.

Impact:

For more than six decades, CCEDC has helped organizations of all sizes explore their location choices. Our team does everything from identifying an existing location to investigating sites for new construction. We work with you to compare purchase vs. lease options, to help you navigate federal, state, and local financing programs, and to answer any questions you may have. Our work also includes remediating brownfield sites as well as planning for redevelopment of corporate parks and other key sites. Helping companies find the right home has a transformational effect on both the business and the surrounding community.

Longwood Gardens is undertaking the most ambitious expansion of its conservatory and the surrounding landscape in a century. The new 32,000-square-foot West Conservatory is the centerpiece of the project, which was partially financed by tax-exempt bonds issued through the CCIDA.

from startup to success story

Issue: Innovation and tech entrepreneurship can be the lifeblood of a strong economy, fueling job growth and creating new products and services for all aspects of our lives. However, innovation also comes with risk, and startups, while thrilling, face twists and turns at every corner. Far too many fail before they even get out of the gate.

Idea: What if there were a dedicated network of experienced advisors and specialists available to guide first-time founders through the high-risk, high-reward world of tech entrepreneurship? CCEDC spearheaded just such an initiative, called the Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n), that makes it their mission to help founders of technology-driven companies access the capital, mentors, and business connections they need to transform new ideas into a commercially viable enterprise.

Impact: In its more than 10-year history, i2n has provided over $17 million in direct tax credits and grants to startups across the region, from life sciences to software to consumer products and much more. At i2n’s monthly Entrepreneurs’ Roundtable, founders gather to share ideas, tackle challenges, and support one another. The program’s economic impact speaks for itself, with more than 2,000 jobs created, 203 patents filed, and $407 million invested back into the local economy.

Brandywine Photonics develops small, low-cost sensing and scientific payload satellite technology. CEO John Fisher notes that his West Chester-based company, with the help of i2n, “received Keystone Innovation Tax Credits and without that, we would be out of business. That really sustained us during tough times and gave us cash flow we needed to get where we are today.”

inclusive entrepreneurship

Issue:

The world of small business still grapples with a stark reality – women and minority ownership remains underrepresented. Multiple studies show that, despite their immense talent and potential, women and minorities trail other groups in rates of business ownership as well as access to credit, venture capital, and the social and professional support needed for success. This disparity not only deprives our communities of diverse perspectives and fresh ideas, but also hampers the overall economic growth that could be achieved through inclusive entrepreneurship.

Idea:

What if we had specialized programs to support historically underrepresented groups of business owners – women, minorities, veterans, individuals without a college degree, or those living in low-income areas? As part of our comprehensive DE&I strategy, CCEDC now offers precisely that. Our services range from technical assistance for loan readiness, to small business grants for entrepreneurial training and essential services, to a microloan fund, with personalized connections to fuel business growth, one client at a time.

Impact:

In its first two years, CCEDC's New Business Champions program has granted close to one hundred awards, empowering underserved small businesses with vital entrepreneurial skills. With our Business Resource Center, located in Coatesville and serving all of Chester County, clients now enjoy a convenient "one-stop shop" for accessing comprehensive business support programs. The number of loans provided to minority-owned businesses by CCEDC and its affiliates increased by over 300% during that same period.

CCEDC funded a small business loan for Built Fitness, LLC. Owner Clayton Kellum used the funds for renovations and to purchase equipment for his successful fitness center.

help wanted

Issue: Businesses know that to be competitive they need to attract and retain the best talent, but hiring, onboarding, and training can be slow and costly.

Idea: What if businesses with similar workforce needs, rather than simply competing for the same few employees, worked together along with public sector and educational partners to expand the overall pool of qualified workers? This approach gives people the cutting-edge skills they need to build careers and support their families while also giving our local companies a huge competitive edge with a robust talent pool. CCEDC facilitates these industry partnerships in high-priority sectors including healthcare, technology, manufacturing, energy, and agriculture. Through these partnerships, grants are provided to employers who invest in modernizing, upskilling, and growing the local workforce.

Impact:

Over the past two decades, CCEDC has injected nearly $8 million of training grants into the local economy, training 20,000 workers across key business sectors. Our Hire One job referral program has served over 7,500 jobseekers. Our employer partnerships meet regularly to foster relationships, share best practices, and address their common challenges together. CCEDC’s workforce efforts are supported with grant funds from the PA Department of Labor & Industry through the Chester County Workforce Development Board and contributions from the private sector.

Partnership in action! Wawa, CCEDC, and Penn Medicine

Chester County Hospital joined forces to honor and celebrate National Nurses Week. The Wawa Community Coffee Truck served up more than 500 cups of coffee to these deserving frontline workers.

local experts, global perspective

Issue: Navigating the complex web of customs, cultures, and regulations for international business can be overwhelming. Even seasoned professionals can sometimes feel like novices in unfamiliar territory. Fear not, global explorer!

Idea: What if a network of experienced global business professionals were available on a volunteer basis to help Chester County businesses expand overseas while also helping foreign companies pick southeast PA as their next place to do business? Our team of Global Business Advisors (GBA), does just that. This group of business leaders consists of 25 international experts who collectively speak more than 20 languages and have worked in 60 foreign countries.

Impact: Whether it’s a small business owner looking to expand their reach or a seasoned executive seeking to capitalize on new opportunities overseas, local companies now have a trusted advisor with the right knowledge and expertise to make the difference. The GBA team has served clients across seven PA counties with dozens of successful international projects, boosting job creation, local exports, and foreign direct investment. Très bien!

The GBA consists of more than 25 experts whose goals include helping expand global markets for Pennsylvania companies and assisting international businesses with investing in PA.

investing in our region

For more than 60 years, CCEDC has provided services that strive to improve the business community and enhance the quality of life in Chester County and the region. We do this, in part, through the generous support generated by our Investor Program.

As a private entity that strives to serve all, we rely on support from our loyal investors to sustain our operations as a full-service, regional, economic development entity. We provide business services that support smart growth and foster the economic health of our community. CCEDC’s Investor Program is led by our business development team that specializes in assisting both large and small companies to identify resources that provide operational efficiencies, thereby helping businesses grow.

CCEDC functions differently. We collaborate with public officials, educational institutions, economic development partners, and the private sector to provide tailored solutions that allow businesses to succeed. With a finger on the pulse of Chester County and the region, our expertise and innovation put companies ahead of the information curve.

Whether it is assistance with identifying a new location to operate or expand a business, providing job skills training and workforce development, or facilitating access to low-interest capital and other financial solutions, CCEDC leverages its resources to match various business needs. Best of all, anyone can take advantage of our services and rely upon our more than six decades of experience in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

There are numerous levels at which investors can support CCEDC. We encourage you to scan the QR code to visit our website, where you can explore those options and the associated benefits.

ANRO, Inc. was started by Angelo and Rose Rossi in 1953 and has grown to a diversified business offering print management solutions services, tools, and technologies. They were the first investor in CCEDC.

• Acting with integrity, compassion, and courage while striving for excellence

• Ensuring the success, equity, and inclusion of all businesses and citizens in the region

• Monitoring community needs and trends so we can advance the economic health of Chester County and the region

• Being responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us

• Valuing employees and stakeholders and recognizing their contributions