• Vanguard Expands as New CEO Recommits to Bogle Principles and Explores AI Innovation 

    Vanguard Expands as New CEO Recommits to Bogle Principles and Explores AI Innovation 

    Malvern-based Vanguard Group has continued to grow under its first external CEO, Salim Ramji, who has recommitted the firm to the low-fee principles championed by its late founder, Jack Bogle, while exploring AI-driven innovation, writes Joseph N. DiStefano for The Philadelphia Inquirer.  Vanguard has added over $1 trillion in customer assets since he took over,…

  • Incredible West Chester Home with Indoor Pool, Custom Treehouse Up for $3.4 Million

    Incredible West Chester Home with Indoor Pool, Custom Treehouse Up for $3.4 Million

    A beautiful West Chester home with an indoor pool and a custom tree house sitting on 12 acres is available for sale for $3.495 million, writes Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal.  Built in 1985, this five-bedroom, five-bathroom home spans 7,248 square feet, with the two-story indoor pool featuring a glass overlook from the…

  • West Chester University Seeks to End Housing Struggle by Adding 900 Beds in Master Plan

    West Chester University Seeks to End Housing Struggle by Adding 900 Beds in Master Plan

    After years struggling with shortages of on-campus housing, West Chester University will add 900 new beds through a series of projects in its master plan, writes Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal.  The school’s council of trustees approved additional housing in the spring for the 409-acre campus through building additions, renovations, and a new…

  • Wayne Couple Turns Patio at Historic Home Into Personal Oasis 

    Wayne Couple Turns Patio at Historic Home Into Personal Oasis 

    Kate and Paul Hermans transformed the backyard of their historic Wayne home, designed by renowned architect Frank Furness, into a true personal oasis, writes Emily Goulet for The Philadelphia Inquirer.  Built in 1878, the house was the childhood home of Robert L. Montgomery, founder of Janney Montgomery Scott. His daughter was the inspiration for the…

  • Local Podcast Connects Listeners to Chester County Nonprofits, Businesses Like ‘Forever Changes’

    Local Podcast Connects Listeners to Chester County Nonprofits, Businesses Like ‘Forever Changes’

    Co-hosted by Joe Casabona, Erik Gudmundson, and Liam Dempsey, the “Start Local” podcast connects Chester County with its local businesses and nonprofits to grow and support each other. Originally started by Casabona and Dempsey in 2020, with Gudmundson joining in 2023, the podcast covers positive and career-oriented topics around the county. With a goal of…

  • Albright College in Reading Fights for Survival with Strategic Changes 

    Albright College in Reading Fights for Survival with Strategic Changes 

    Albright College in Reading, one of the many higher education options for Chester County students, ended its recent fiscal year with a surplus of over $10 million, overcoming its deficit by cutting operational costs, reducing full-time staff, and selling unused property and assets, writes Amanda Fries for The Philadelphia Inquirer.  But even with all the…

  • Former Miss Georgia Rises to QVC Superstar After Debuting First Brand with Network

    Former Miss Georgia Rises to QVC Superstar After Debuting First Brand with Network

    Kim Gravel, a former Miss Georgia, became a QVC superstar after launching her first brand with the West Chester-based shopping network at age 46, writes Cindy Barth for the Philadelphia Business Journal.  Seven years later, she became the first QVC talent to exceed $250 million in annual sales, contributing to over $1 billion in total…

  • Pennsylvania Named One of Top States for AI Innovation and Capacity Building

    Pennsylvania Named One of Top States for AI Innovation and Capacity Building

    Pennsylvania ranks among the top three states for AI usage, training, and capacity building in state government, according to Code for America, writes Ryan Deto for AXIOS.  “In Pennsylvania, leaders have aggressively pursued workforce capacity building through training partnerships with Carnegie Mellon and InnovateUS,” states the national nonprofit’s report.  Alongside neighboring New Jersey and Delaware,…

  • One of the Continent’s Oldest Food Forests Stands in Downingtown Thanks to John Hershey

    One of the Continent’s Oldest Food Forests Stands in Downingtown Thanks to John Hershey

    One of North America’s oldest food forests stands tall in Chester County thanks to decades of agroforestry started by John W. Hershey in the early 1900s, writes J.F. Pirro for Main Line Today. After working on tree improvement programs during the Dust Bowl, Hershey went to Downingtown and Guthriesville with the best native saplings to…

  • One of Bucks County’s Largest Family-Owned Companies Acquires Six Applebee’s Restaurants 

    One of Bucks County’s Largest Family-Owned Companies Acquires Six Applebee’s Restaurants 

    Newtown franchisee The Rose Group, one of Greater Philadelphia’s largest family-owned companies, has acquired six Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar restaurants in Central Pennsylvania, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal.  The six eateries in Carlisle, Ephrata, Harrisburg, Hummelstown, Lancaster, and York were purchased from fellow franchisee Keystone Apple for an undisclosed amount.  With…

  • Fresh Dining Spots and New Wawa Debut in Bucks County

    Fresh Dining Spots and New Wawa Debut in Bucks County

    Bucks County has added several new restaurants to its dining scene in December, with more ready to premier in the coming weeks, writes Jeff Werner for the Patch.  Don Héctor, a Peruvian chicken restaurant, and WNB Factory, a fast-casual restaurant chain famous for its wings and burgers, opened this month at the Town Center of…

  • Kennett Square-based Genesis Healthcare Aims to Restructure After Filing for Bankruptcy

    Kennett Square-based Genesis Healthcare Aims to Restructure After Filing for Bankruptcy

    Kennett Square-based Genesis Healthcare filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this week, aiming to restructure the debt tied to facilities that it no longer operates, writes Harold Brubaker for The Philadelphia Inquirer.  The company has nursing homes in 17 states, including 42 in Pennsylvania and 11 in New Jersey. No immediate interruptions in resident care are…

  • At This West Grove Farm Animal Rescue, Adoptions Transform Both Pets and People 

    At This West Grove Farm Animal Rescue, Adoptions Transform Both Pets and People 

    Greenmore Farm Animal Rescue in West Grove rescues animals in unique situations and is equally committed to helping people through pet adoption, writes Gabbie Burton for the Chester County Press.  “When you adopt a dog, you open up a whole new window to yourself,” said Greenmore Farm Animal Rescue Founder and Executive Director Julia Altman.…

  • Coatesville Company Turns Thousands of Plastic Bags into Sustainable Benches and Tables 

    Coatesville Company Turns Thousands of Plastic Bags into Sustainable Benches and Tables 

    JAHACO, a Coatesville-based business, is taking plastic bags and soft plastics and turning them into beautiful benches, tables, and more, reports Bill Hartung for 6ABC.  JAHACO is run by husband-and-wife duo, Amy and Jeff Burke. Jeff was always passionate about building things, and Amy always loved refinishing furniture, so when they were able to combine…

  • Native Bats Are Helping Curb the Spotted Lanternfly Population

    Native Bats Are Helping Curb the Spotted Lanternfly Population

    Researchers have found that some native bat species are preying on spotted lanternflies, the invasive insects that arrived in Pennsylvania in 2014 and have since caused millions of dollars in damage to trees and crops, writes Jim Melwert for KYW Newsradio.  Erin McHale, a PhD candidate at Rutgers, analyzed uncontaminated bat guano from bats that…

  • Two Chester County Farms Get Permanently Preserved

    Two Chester County Farms Get Permanently Preserved

    The Shapiro Administration has invested nearly $10 million to purchase development rights for 2,672 acres on 35 farms in 18 counties, protecting them from future residential or commercial development. These joint investments by state and local government ensure that Pennsylvania farmers will have the prime-quality land they need to continue feeding our families and supporting jobs and…

  • West Chester Law Firm Advocates for Truth for Parents of Beloved Teacher Who Died in Stabbing

    West Chester Law Firm Advocates for Truth for Parents of Beloved Teacher Who Died in Stabbing

    Josh and Sandee Greenberg, parents of beloved teacher Ellen Greenberg who died after being stabbed 20 times, are still seeking the truth with help from Lamb McErlane, a law firm based in West Chester, writes KC Baker for People.  Ellen was found dead in the apartment she shared with her fiancé, Sam Goldberg, in January 2011. …

  • HSN Officially Relocates to QVC’s West Chester Campus 

    HSN Officially Relocates to QVC’s West Chester Campus 

    After months of preparation, HSN has closed operations at its Florida studios and officially completed its relocation to QVC’s campus in West Chester, writes Ashley Gurbal Kritzer for the Philadelphia Business Journal.  The shopping network “transitioned to broadcasting full-time from our corporate headquarters in West Chester” at noon on Wednesday, said its spokesperson.  HSN’s parent…