Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC Returns to Downtown Harrisburg, Reinforcing Its Commitment to Regional Economic Prosperity
HARRISBURG, Pa. (November 12, 2026) — The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC is beginning a new chapter in a familiar place.
After nearly three decades at its North Front Street headquarters, the organization is returning to the heart of downtown Harrisburg, establishing its new home at Strawberry Square in the historic Bowman building.
The move represents more than a change of address. It reflects the organization’s deep roots in Harrisburg, its longstanding commitment to strengthening the regional economy, and its continued investment in the future of downtown.
A Return to Our Roots
The Chamber’s history in Harrisburg stretches back more than 140 years, beginning with the Harrisburg Board of Trade in the 1880s and continuing through the establishment of the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce in 1914.
Throughout its history, the organization has helped shape the region’s economic development, advocated for critical infrastructure and business investment, and brought together leaders to address challenges and pursue opportunities.
Its early offices were located in downtown Harrisburg, and in 1940, the Chamber established its longtime headquarters at 114 Walnut Street. It remained there until 1998, when the organization relocated to North Front Street.
Now, nearly 30 years later, the Chamber & CREDC is returning to the downtown neighborhood where much of its history began.
“For 140 years, through different names and different eras, this organization has served as a convener, an advocate, and, most importantly, a catalyst,” said Ryan C. Unger, President & CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC.
Returning to a Downtown We Helped Shape
The Chamber’s connection to downtown Harrisburg extends well beyond the location of its offices.
For generations, the organization has worked alongside business, government, and community leaders to strengthen the city’s economic vitality and support investments that benefit the broader region.
That history includes the Chamber’s involvement in efforts to advance major downtown redevelopment projects, including Strawberry Square, which helped transform Harrisburg’s central business district.
Today, the Chamber & CREDC is returning to a downtown it has long championed, reaffirming its belief in the importance of a strong, vibrant urban center to the economic health of the entire region.
Historic Walls. A New Chapter.
The new headquarters carries a particularly meaningful connection to Harrisburg’s past.
Located within Strawberry Square’s historic Bowman building, the office occupies space once associated with Bowman’s Department Store, a fixture of downtown commerce for generations.
The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC’s new headquarters in the historic Bowman Tower at Strawberry Square marks a return to downtown Harrisburg and a renewed investment in the region’s future.
Founded in 1871, Bowman’s became one of Harrisburg’s most recognizable retailers and an important part of the city’s commercial history.
The building’s historic brickwork provides a tangible connection to that legacy, bringing together the character of Harrisburg’s past and the possibilities of its future.
For an organization whose own history has been intertwined with the city’s commercial growth, the setting is especially fitting.
Investing in Downtown. Strengthening the Region.
The move also represents a direct investment in the vision outlined in the Downtown Harrisburg Revitalization Plan, Harrisburg Works for All of Us.
The Chamber & CREDC has been a leader in advancing the plan, which brings together public, private, and community stakeholders around a shared vision for a more vibrant, connected, and economically resilient downtown.
The organization’s relocation was made possible through collaboration with Harristown Development Corporation and NAI CIR, whose partnership and expertise helped identify and secure the Chamber & CREDC’s new home at Strawberry Square.
As a longtime leader in downtown revitalization and the developer of Strawberry Square, Harristown has played a significant role in shaping Harrisburg’s urban landscape. NAI CIR, a Central Pennsylvania commercial real estate firm, brought its local market knowledge and expertise to the search for a space that would support the Chamber & CREDC’s evolving needs.
Together, these partnerships reflect the very approach the Chamber & CREDC champions: bringing organizations and expertise together to create opportunities and move the region forward.
By relocating its headquarters to Strawberry Square, the organization is putting its commitment to downtown revitalization into action, bringing its staff, members, partners, and visitors into the heart of the city.
The decision reflects a belief that downtown Harrisburg’s success is closely connected to the prosperity of the surrounding communities.
As the region’s center of government, business activity, and civic engagement, downtown Harrisburg plays an important role in supporting economic opportunity throughout Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties.
A stronger downtown contributes to a stronger region.
A New Home for Regional Collaboration
The Chamber & CREDC’s mission is to be the region’s catalyst for economic prosperity.
That mission extends far beyond the walls of any office building.
As a convener of businesses, elected officials, community organizations, and economic development partners, the Chamber & CREDC works to create connections, strengthen the business environment, advocate for policies that support growth, and advance opportunities across the region.
The new headquarters will also be home to several valued regional partners, including Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Life Sciences Greenhouse, Harrisburg Rotary Club, and Ignite CDFI. By bringing these organizations together under one roof, the Chamber & CREDC is creating additional opportunities for collaboration, connection, and shared efforts to strengthen the region’s business community.
While the organization’s address is changing, its regional focus remains the same: supporting businesses and communities throughout Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties and helping position the region for long-term economic success.
Rooted in History. Focused on the Future.
The Chamber & CREDC’s return to downtown Harrisburg is both a reflection of its history and a statement about its future.
From its earliest days as the Harrisburg Board of Trade to its role today as a regional leader in business advocacy and economic development, the organization has evolved alongside the communities it serves.
Its new home at Strawberry Square honors that history while reinforcing its commitment to the next chapter of regional growth.
Our roots run deep. Our commitment to the region runs deeper.
The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC looks forward to welcoming members, partners, and the community to its new headquarters with a ribbon-cutting celebration and open house events planned for early Q1 2027.
Media Contact:
Jessica Falborn
Senior Director, Communications & Public Affairs
jfalborn@hbgrc.org
717-213-5046
####
ABOUT THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC
For 140 years, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC has served as the region’s catalyst for economic prosperity. The organization combines business, community, and economic development services to enhance the region’s vitality and livability. The Chamber is a five-star accredited chamber through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce- a distinction held by fewer than 1 percent of chambers nationwide. CREDC is the region’s toolbox for economic development. It is the only Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO) approved by the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development to perform economic development activities regionally using Pennsylvania’s funding programs across Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties.
