Coffee&Convos: Greater Reading Financing Opportunities (Aug 2024)

Calling all small business owners! Coffee&Convos provides networking and programming to help support your small-business needs. GRCA is excited to relaunch this series to assist small businesses in Berks County with items such as developing marketing plans, driving sales leads and improving customer service.

Greater Reading Financing Opportunities
Are you interested in learning about financing opportunities available to your business? Please join the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance and Community First Fund to discuss how we can support your financial needs.

Funding is available through various programs for real estate acquisition or renovation, machinery and equipment purchases, or working capital needs.

Hear more about the projects we have financed and how we can help your business grow. The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance and Community First Fund are long-standing partners in working together for the success of our Berks County companies.

We hope to see you there!

Meet our Speaker:

Kayla Hayick (GRCA) In 2009, Kayla Hayick graduated from Governor Mifflin High School in Shillington, Pa. Hayick attended Penn State Berks and graduated in 2016 with a Bachelors Degree in Communication Arts and Sciences. For the last 7 years Hayick worked at Mortgage America in Wyomissing, Pa as a mortgage assistant and underwriter where she was able to help residents secure residential mortgage loans in PA, DE, NJ and FL. In January of 2024. Hayick accepted a position with the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance as the Director of Lending and Business Outreach which allows her to assist and inform the Greater Reading area of financing opportunities that are offered throughout the state.

Shannon Leonhard (Community First Fund) Vice President, Community Lender at Community First Fund, in the Reading Office.  Leonhard works with individuals and businesses who need lending that fits the mission of Community First Fund which is to provide lending to those either located, or serve clients in low-income communities, businesses owned by people of color,  women-owned businesses and immigrants. Its lending includes start-up loans to new businesses, loans to existing businesses, investment property loans, as well as large-scale community projects. Leonhard has a diverse lending background from 24 years in the industry which includes: personal banking, small business and commercial lending to now working for a Community Development Financial Institution.  It is with pleasure that she works for an organization that focuses on folks in the community that may not quite fit the policies within conventional lending, and provide the funds needed to enhance not just the borrowers, but the community as a whole.  As a resident of the City of Reading for the last 20+ years, Leonhard feels gratified to see her clients benefiting from the funds that she helps provide.

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