Business Development

International Business Development

The Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) maintains an international focus with part of its mission devoted to promoting foreign investment in the Capital region. In order to achieve this goal, the Foreign Investment Committee actively seeks to identify foreign investors and prospects interested in our region.

The Foreign Investment Committee works to promote foreign investment in the Capital region by:

• Maintaining contact with local sourcing leads such as the Governor's Action Team, local utilities, the Office of International Business Development and Pennsylvania's Foreign Investment Offices;
• Responding to leads generated from referral sources;
• Coordinating Inbound Trade Missions;
• Participating as a member of the Southcentral Region Team PA Export Network;
• Working with local organizations to identify qualified candidates to apply for loans available to exporters.

International Business Resources

The Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC)'s International Committee is partnering with leading organizations in the three county area ( Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry) to promote international investment in Central Pennsylvania. We serve as a catalyst for assisting companies that are interested in expanding or locating their business in our area. We offer a variety of financial assistance programs and resources aiding companies to expand in our area.

Our region also offers an opportunity to take advantage of transportation infrastructure in the northeast U.S. This is a result of our proximity to Interstate 76 (turnpike), Interstate 81, and Interstate 83 (with easy access to Interstates 78 and 80); U.S. Route 11/15; U.S. Route 22/322; several railroad lines; Harrisburg International Airport; and a short distance to Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia's ports.

The Central Pennsylvania area is a perfect location for any company to locate in the nation, or to expand their existing presence. There is a very strong existing business base in the area with over 400 internationally owned successful companies. CREDC is ready to assist your company in a variety of areas including site selection, consulting, and business financing programs. We also have connections with local, state, and federal government agencies as do our partners that can readily assist your expansion into this area.

We partner with the World Trade Center of Central Pennsylvania offering experienced consultation on international trade, networking opportunities, and educational programs; Kutztown Small Business Development Center offering a team of experienced professionals to consult with businesses on how to create or expand business opportunities in Pennsylvania; and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development offering a series of economic assistance programs, resources, and programs through state government.

Below are links to other resources that may be helpful for researching business opportunities here:

Port of Baltimore
Foreign Trade Zone
Kutztown Small Business Development Center
Port of New York
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
Port of Philadelphia
Team Pennsylvania Foundation
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Commerce
World Trade Center of Central Pennsylvania

INNOVENTURE 2007

In May of 2007, CREDC collaborated with the World Trade Center of Central Pennsylvania and DCED to host a global component to Innoventure. Innoventure is a semi-annual technology and bioscience expo held in Hershey for regional companies and researchers to present their data, product, or services. We facilitated meetings with regional businesses and international trade representatives as well as hosted an informational session on international trade and intellectual property rights.

Trade representatives present information on what individual countries are seeking for business opportunities

Trade representatives from various countries are given a tour of the HersheyCenter for Applied Research during the global business section of Innoventure2007. The HersheyCenter for Applied Research is a facility located in Hershey, PA offering available property for wet labs and other research amenities

For more information on this event and international business opportunities, please contact Shaun Donovan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or (717) 213-5033. Thank you.