Greater Reading Chamber Alliance launches talent attraction program

Making connections is the focus of a new program announced Friday by the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance.

In this case, it’s about connecting local companies with prospective new residents of the greater Reading area and job seekers.

The chamber’s Meet Greater Reading talent attraction program will have a trial run through the end of the year, with an official launch planned for January.

“A vibrant and skilled workforce is vital to the success of local businesses and our economy,” Keith Stamm, GRCA director of workforce development, said in a statement. “This initiative aims to bolster and cultivate our community’s workforce, which has contracted in recent years, primarily attributed to our aging population,”

The chamber alliance has been working with RoleCall, a national talent attraction consulting agency, to build out the program, according to a release.

“We have been working with RoleCall, local businesses and partners over the past year to identify specific ways to support our employers’ talent attraction efforts while also developing strategic solutions to attract new talent to the area,” Stamm added.

A digital marketing campaign is planned, according to the GRCA, targeting people interested in moving to the greater Reading region, resulting in a talent roster that will be distributed to local employers by the GRCA’s talent team.

Some of the main selling points that will be highlighted in the campaign are the area’s low cost of living, outdoor amenities and great schools, and the region’s access to larger cities.

A special emphasis of the campaign will be on nine key industries, including education, health care, engineering, manufacturing and skilled trades. Prospective candidates will regularly receive curated information related to their industry and interests.

“Talent attraction is the name of the game for all successful businesses, and this exciting program will establish new pathways for prospective employees to learn about both the county’s great attributes along with specific job opportunities within their fields of employment,” Jim Gerlach, GRCA president & CEO, said in a statement.

The program work was funded largely by Berks County and the GRCA’s economic development investors.

Greater Reading companies that would like to tap into the talent roster can contact Stamm at KStamm@greaterreading.org to learn more.

The chamber alliance will also host a session for the business community to learn how to level up its talent attraction efforts on Oct. 5 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at its Center for Business Excellence in Wyomissing. Representatives from Herbein + Co. will present how to attract qualified talent. Attendees will also learn more about the Meet Greater Reading talent attraction program. Register at GreaterReading.org.