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Community Profile

The City of Reading: Crossroads of Opportunity
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Reading is called the Crossroads of Opportunity, and for good reason. From nationally recognized retail to high-tech research, Reading is home to a variety of businesses and a positive economic climate.

Reading is known nationally for its Bridal District, a destination featuring more than 25 bridal -related businesses, including one of the country's largest bridal outlets, all within a two-mile radius of one another. Reading plays host to thousands of prospective brides each week, as they shop the largest concentration of wedding gowns in the nation, as well as for wedding cake, flowers, photography, music and other accessories.

Reading is a also a hub for life sciences research in Greater Cincinnati, as it is home to a research, development and production facility for Patheon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,  Girindus America, which offers pharmaceutical research and production, and the University of Cincinnati Genome Research Institute. The campus is part of Ohio’s Third Frontier initiative to expand high-tech research capabilities and promote innovation and the creation of high-paying jobs.

Reading has several programs for businesses interested in locating or expanding in the city. Reading has established a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA), which allows commercial property owners along Reading Road a tax abatement for improvements made to their properties.

The entire City of Reading is designated as an enterprise zone, which makes businesses eligible for up to a 75 percent tax abatement on new investments in real property.

The Reading Community Improvement Corporation, in conjunction with a local bank, offers 4 percent loans of up to $15,000 to Reading businesses and property owners to renovate their properties.

In addition to the Reading Community Improvement Corp., which is dedicated to attracting new businesses and retaining existing ones, the city also works with the Reading Chamber of Commerce, the Reading Blue Ribbon Committee, which works to implement a comprehensive economic development plan, and the Reading Business Roundtable, a group of representatives from Reading’s largest employers, the chamber, city hall and Reading Community Schools.