More than 300 business and community leaders helped Central Penn Business Journal celebrate Reader Rankings' inaugural party June 19 in Harrisburg.

Harrisburg University started Contractor U in May as a way to bolster local contractor participation in Harrisburg construction projects, including the university's 17-story educational tower getting underway this summer.

CREDC recently facilitated state loans for a multi-tenant industrial development in Cumberland County and a new daycare center in Dauphin County.

Archer Public Affairs has opened a new government affairs office in Harrisburg with two longtime state government officials at the helm.

Harrisburg-based Reynolds Enterprises has seen continued growth in its energy-services work since joining a private-equity portfolio called SiteLogiQ last year. CEO David Angle expects more energy work ahead.

Dauphin County has received $300,000 in new federal brownfields funding, which will benefit environmental assessment work needed to redevelop the former Harrisburg State Hospital campus.

Lancaster-based Community First Fund is bolstering its executive team and growing staff to prepare for greater lending growth across the communities it serves in Central Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley and suburban Philadelphia.

Hallcon Corp., a Kansas-based provider of outsourced transportation and fleet maintenance services, is laying off 84 employees in Pennsylvania after losing a contract with railroad company Norfolk Southern Corp.

Will and Darmayne Robertson are the couple behind Sweet Confections Cakes in Lower Paxton Township. Business is growing.

Harrisburg-based Susquehanna Esports has a new home in downtown Harrisburg's SoMA neighborhood.

Harrisburg University has hired an executive director for its new Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

For nearly a year, craft brewers have railed against a plan by the state Department of Revenue that would require breweries to start charging a 6 percent sales tax on all their taproom products, including draft beers served on site and six-packs and growlers to go. The state is scheduled to begin enforcing the taproom tax in July, but a legislative fix is in the works.

Orrstown Bank has expanded its leadership team in the Harrisburg area, naming Zack Khuri to the new position of market president for the capital region.

Harristown Enterprises has started construction on a $1.2 million apartment project in downtown Harrisburg.

Longtime Harrisburg environmental lawyer Joel Burcat is authoring more than legal papers – he is becoming a bona fide novelist.