Pottstown Area Industrial Development, Inc.

What Pottstown Area Industrial Development, Inc. does

Pottstown Area Economic Development, Inc. (PAED), formerly Pottstown Area Industrial Development (PAID), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in 1965 and headquartered in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The organization is the designated lead economic development entity for the Borough of Pottstown, providing site selection assistance, commercial and industrial real estate development coordination, workforce development support, and access to capital and government resources for businesses seeking to invest in, expand to, or relocate within the borough. PAED also operates the 'I Pick Pottstown' community branding campaign (launched 2017) and an associated Yiftee-powered community gift card program designed to retain local commercial activity.

PAED serves three primary constituencies: businesses evaluating Pottstown as a location (with named clients spanning defense/marine, life sciences, manufacturing, hospitality, brewing, and retail), property investors and developers seeking curated listings of available downtown retail, office, and industrial real estate, and municipal/community stakeholders including the Borough of Pottstown, Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority, and local chambers. The organization is led by Executive Director Peggy Lee-Clark and governed by a Board of Directors drawn from the Borough, Pottstown School District, Montgomery County RDA, TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, and local business leaders.

PAED generates no commercial revenue from products or services. Operating funds come from federal grants (EPA Brownfields), state grants (a $265,000 Commonwealth Financing Authority grant in 2022 for infrastructure and parks), county support (Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority), corporate and individual donations, and proceeds from signature events such as the annual Fete en Blanc (which drew 750 guests). Recent strategic activity centers on building cross-sector partnerships — Amtrak Thruway bus service (June 2022), the Y3, LLC life sciences incubator hub (June 2022), EPA brownfield remediation, and Schuylkill River Passenger Rail restoration — and on broadening the organization's remit from industrial recruitment to a comprehensive economic development mandate including innovation, sustainability, hospitality, and tourism.

Name

Pottstown Area Industrial Development, Inc.

Legal name

Pottstown Area Economic Development, Inc.

Website

https://paidinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Pottstown Area Economic Development (PAED) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1965 that serves as the lead economic development organization for the Borough of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, providing site selection, real estate development, workforce development, and the 'I Pick Pottstown' community branding campaign to businesses, investors, and municipal stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Urban Renewal, Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reuse (BPAIANAI)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Site selection assistance
• Commercial real estate development
• Workforce development programs
• Community revitalization

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: PAED operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The organization receives funding through grants (federal EPA Brownfields, Commonwealth Finance Authority, Montgomery County RDA, etc.), corporate and individual donations, and fundraising events such as the Fete en Blanc.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pottstown Area Industrial Development, Inc. (doing business as Pottstown Area Economic Development, PAED) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development organization that provides site selection assistance, commercial and industrial real estate development coordination, workforce development support, and access to resources for businesses and organizations seeking to invest in, expand within, or relocate to the Borough of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The organization also publishes available property listings and runs community engagement initiatives such as the I Pick Pottstown branding campaign and community gift card program.

Product overview

Pottstown Area Industrial Development (PAID), doing business as Pottstown Area Economic Development (PAED), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development organization that serves as the lead economic development organization for Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The organization provides a suite of services centered on business development, real estate, and community programs rather than a technology product. Core offerings include site selection assistance, commercial and industrial real estate development and redevelopment, workforce development, and access to resources. The organization also runs the 'I Pick Pottstown' branding campaign with an associated community gift card program, and maintains a listings service for available commercial properties. The organization does not operate a software platform, SaaS product, or technology solution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• I Pick Pottstown: Community branding campaign launched in 2017 with tagline 'Pioneers of the Good Life' to promote Pottstown as an ideal urban center to live, learn, work, and visit.

Products and services

• Site Selection Services Direct assistance for businesses seeking to invest, expand, or relocate in Pottstown, including identification of available properties and site locations. PAED helps companies navigate the full process of evaluating and selecting a Pottstown location.
• Commercial and Industrial Real Estate Development Support Coordination and facilitation of commercial and industrial real estate development, redevelopment, and property revitalization projects within the Borough of Pottstown, including brownfields remediation support.
• Workforce Development Services Programs and services to develop the skilled workforce needed by local employers, including connecting businesses with training resources, educational partners such as Montgomery County Community College, and workforce development initiatives.
• Properties for Lease or Sale Listings Monthly curated listings of available downtown retail, office, and industrial real estate properties in Pottstown, published on the PAED website and social media channels for potential investors and businesses. PAED does not own or represent these properties.
• I Pick Pottstown Community Gift Card Program Digital community gift card program operated in partnership with Yiftee that enables users to purchase gift cards usable at participating Pottstown merchants, keeping consumer spending within the local community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 commercial properties sold with cumulative sale price of $2.8 million (2018)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023PAED and the Borough of Pottstown are working with SRPRA on restoration of passenger rail service between Reading and Philadelphia. SRPRA has equal representation and funding from Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties. An American Planning Association delegation visited Pottstown's future passenger rail location in April 2023.
• Schuylkill River Greenways NHAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Schuylkill River Greenways NHA welcomed Take It Outdoors kayaking outpost to the Montgomery County side of the river. PAED champions tourism and recreation district initiatives throughout the Borough.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2022EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe visited Pottstown for a tour of major projects supported by the EPA Brownfields Redevelopment Program. PAED coordinated the visit with Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, Representative Joe Ciresi, and Commissioner Valerie Arkoosh. EPA support enables environmental clean-up at sites like the former Pottstown Plating Works.
• Y3, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2022Y3, LLC is redeveloping approximately 7,500 sq. ft. of vacant space in downtown Pottstown into a life sciences incubator hub. PAED actively pursued this opportunity as part of its economic development strategy, and PAED is a member of Life Sciences PA to support these initiatives.
• Amtrak / Amtrak Thruway Bus ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2022Amtrak began bus service linking Reading-Pottstown-Philadelphia on June 6, 2022, with $9 one-way fares. PAED advocated for this connectivity as a 'tremendously valuable asset for the business community and residents,' enhancing Pottstown's economic revitalization.
• American Keg CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022PAED championed government relations support for American Keg Company during supply chain challenges. Senator Bob Casey and US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo visited the facility alongside PAED Executive Director Peggy Lee-Clark and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean. American Keg is a key employer in Pottstown that expanded its operations with PAED's support.
• Delilah & Dean's MarketminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Fresh produce, organic health foods, supplies, and gifts retailer visited by Senator Bob Casey during PAED-hosted economic development tour. PAED supports access to nutrition and education goals in the community.
• Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority (RDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022PAED presented an award to the Montgomery County RDA for their support of Pottstown's environmental remediation efforts. The RDA provides assistance with environmental work and has been instrumental in blight remediation and redevelopment projects throughout the Borough.
• Hobart's RuncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Hobart's Run is a neighborhood improvement initiative that co-hosts the annual Fete en Blanc event with PAED. Both organizations are committed to revitalization through economic and community development within the Borough of Pottstown.
• Montgomery County Community College (MCCC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022MCCC is opening its Challenger Learning Center offering STEM programs to school-age students in Pottstown, and is transforming its North Hall parking lot into a grass-covered gathering space with rain gardens. PAED works with MCCC on workforce development and educational initiatives.
• Iron GlobeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Iron Globe is a multi-faceted entertainment complex in Pottstown hosting high-profile musical performances, food and beverage venues, and family activities such as ice skating and drive-in movies. Featured as part of Pottstown's tourism and recreation district.
• TriCounty Area Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022PAED co-presents the annual Pottstown Progress Luncheon with the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, held at the Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown. The event draws nearly 250 members of the business community from across Montgomery, Chester, and Berks counties.
• VFC (Virtual Farm Creative)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Todd Palmer of VFC (formerly Virtual Farm Creative) provided pro bono marketing strategy work in 2017, presenting the 'I Pick Pottstown, Pioneers of the Good Life' tagline and campaign framework. Multiple business leaders provided seed money to fund the campaign launch.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lancaster Chamber of Commerce: Combined chamber and economic development organization serving Lancaster County, PA. Comparable integrated model of business attraction, retention, and workforce development for a defined Pennsylvania county geography.
• TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber of commerce covering Montgomery, Chester, and Berks counties that co-presents the annual Pottstown Progress Luncheon with PAED. Operates as a peer business-attraction and member-services organization serving the same tri-county footprint.
• Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority: County-level economic development and redevelopment authority that actively partners with PAED on environmental remediation and brownfield projects. Shares the same community revitalization mandate within Montgomery County and is named as a direct PAED partner.
• Chester County Economic Development Council: County-level economic development organization serving Chester County, PA with site selection, business retention, and workforce programs. Operates an equivalent EDA mandate in the same southeastern Pennsylvania market as PAED.
• Berks County Industrial Development Authority: County industrial development authority conducting site selection, industrial real estate development, and economic development coordination in Berks County. Closely analogous authority structure to PAED's industrial-development roots.
• Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation: Pennsylvania regional EDA conducting business attraction, site selection, and workforce development in the Lehigh Valley. Closely comparable to PAED in service mix (site selection, redevelopment, workforce, branding) with a larger regional scope.
• Greater Reading Chamber Alliance: Regional economic development and chamber organization serving Berks County, PA. Directly comparable in service offerings (site selection, business assistance, workforce) and shares the Schuylkill River corridor geography with Pottstown.

Broad incumbents

• Choose New Jersey: State-level public-private economic development organization conducting business attraction, marketing, and site selection for New Jersey. Operates overlapping functions (marketing, business attraction, site selection) at a broader incumbent scale than PAED's borough-level focus.
• Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC): Pennsylvania's largest public-private economic development corporation serving Philadelphia with site selection, real estate development, capital, and workforce programs. Operates the same EDA mandate as PAED at substantially greater scale and capitalization.

Others

• Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED): State government agency administering the grants and programs (CFA, infrastructure) that fund PAED's projects. Functions as the ecosystem enabler rather than a direct peer, but is materially relevant as the source of grant funding PAED depends on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ipickpottstown
• Instagraminstagram.com/ipickpottstown

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pottstown Area Industrial Development, Inc.