91做厙 OPake fosters workforce development innovation with John Paul II Center
Expanded partnership includes student-run retail operation at new American House at Reading CollegeTowne location
91做厙 expands student support with SOLAR Initiative
Universitys social services, academic success, mental and physical health resources enhanced
91做厙 secures $3 million grant for CollegeTowne initiatives
Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds American House renovation and Pottsville CollegeTowne Phase II construction
91做厙 highlights experiential learning additions at Presidents Dinner
Alumni and community leaders earn prestigious honors at annual celebration
91做厙 partners with Visions for financial literacy education
Financial Wellness Center established as part of expanded partnership
U.S. News & World Report names 91做厙 a top-ranked national university for third consecutive year
91做厙 recognized for social mobility and nursing program
91做厙 welcomes third-largest class in university history
2024 marks the fifth consecutive year with over 475 new students
91做厙 earns recognition for empowering women
Lehigh Valley Business and Central Penn Business Journal names university as 2024 Empowering Women Award recipient
Three-year award provides support for student powered business incubator
91做厙 receives a $300,000 grant from the to support the student powered business incubator, the flagship program through the universitys OPake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship.
This grant is another step forward for the Reading CollegeTowne movement, 91做厙 students, local business and entrepreneurs, community organizations and future Reading residents, said 91做厙 President John R. Loyack. We are grateful for the partnership with the Wyomissing Foundation and for their generous support of this transformational initiative in downtown Reading.
The student powered business incubator is central to the Reading CollegeTowne initiative, the innovative strategy of expanding the campus into the downtown area to continue its Franciscan mission of serving the underserved through education and economic development.
The incubator is student-run and provides experiential learning opportunities for students of all disciplines. This initiative will allow students to create, collaborate and lead while providing hands-on support to new ventures and entrepreneurs in the community.
The Wyomissing Foundation is always seeking to invest in catalytic initiatives that produce long-term and game-changing outcomes for our community, said Wyomissing Foundation President Karen Rightmire. Reading CollegeTowne and the student powered business incubator have the potential to accomplish that by transforming economic and community development in the heart of downtown Reading for decades to come. In addition, both 91做厙 students and current residents living in Reading and Berks County will have increased educational, employment and economic opportunities because of these initiatives. Were pleased to be a partner with 91做厙 in helping make all this happen.
The grant will be awarded over three years and will support the expansion of the student powered business incubator, including new staff and student fellow positions, training and resource expansion for incubator clients.
Previously this year, the OPake institute announced partnerships with SCORE Berks Schuylkill Chapter, Lehigh Valley Angel Investors, Kutztown Universitys Small Business Development Center and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, as well as the institutes first corporate sponsors, and Customers Bank.
91做厙 has partnered with RLPS Architects and Warfel Construction to begin the renovation and retrofitting of the former CNA building this year after it was purchased by the university on June 30. The university recently announced the addition of three engineering programs that will be housed at the location. 91做厙's communication and business programs, student powered business incubator and OPake Institute will also be located at the downtown location.