Alvernia University will add three engineering programs in a move to supply graduates who can fill the needs of the local workforce, officials announced a news conference in downtown Reading.

Thirty Alvernia students moved into the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading earlier this week to lower the number of students living on the university’s main campus, university officials announced. It also introduces students to downtown living, which is a goal of the university’s Reading CollegeTowne, a strategic model for economic development in Reading that was introduced last year.

Tower Health has named Dr. Ron Nutting, as the new chief medical officer of Reading Hospital in West Reading.

The five-story building, which formerly was home to CNA Insurance and more recently to I-LEAD Charter School, will include classrooms and labs, loft-style student housing, dining facilities, retail outlets and other operations, and serve as the centerpiece of the CollegeTowne initiative.

After previous parking app provider MobileNow abruptly went out of business May 19 because of the COVID-19 shutdown, three cities in the region have found a new provider for the service.

Tower Health in West Reading said it is working on a phased reopening plan after shutting down most services to deal with the COVID-19 virus.

UGI Utilities Inc. said it will be restarting a number of natural gas main replacement projects in the Greater Lehigh Valley and Berks regions.

Tower Health, the Reading-based health network, will furlough approximately 1,000 full time employees in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health system.

Grand View Health has announced that former Penn State Health St. Joseph CFO Courtney Coffman has joined the leadership team as vice president and Chief Financial Officer of the Bucks County-based health system.

Berks County Community Foundation has launched an emergency grant program to help Berks County nonprofits fill funding gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.