Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation

06/09/2026

CAEDC is pleased to share that the Real Estate Collaborative, a subsidiary of CAEDC, has been awarded $750,000 through Pennsylvania's Industrial Sites Reuse Program (ISRP) to advance environmental remediation at the former Frog, Switch & Manufacturing Company site in Carlisle.

The ISRP loan is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through its Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund Program.

This funding will support critical cleanup activities, including excavation, hazardous material disposal, soil remediation, and environmental testing, helping prepare the 17-acre former industrial property for future mixed-use development.

The Frog Switch site represents a significant redevelopment opportunity for Carlisle and Cumberland County. By transforming a long-standing brownfield into a shovel-ready site, this project will help attract investment, create new opportunities for growth, and support a vibrant future for the community.

“Cleaning up and transforming former industrial sites creates stronger and healthier communities, and new opportunities for growth,” said DCED Secretary Rick Siger. “This ISRP investment will turn an abandoned manufacturing plant in Carlisle into a space that better services the needs of the community. The Shapiro Administration will continue to support local revitalization, spur economic development, address public health and safety, and provide new opportunities for communities across Pennsylvania.”

This award builds on the previous $10.2 million PA SITES investment secured for the project and reflects the importance of partnerships between state and local organizations working toward economic revitalization.

Learn more here ⬇️

Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC) provides services and resources to assist area businesses through all stages of growth.

06/08/2026

Supporting our local business community means sharing resources when they matter most. That's why we're highlighting a new U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster assistance opportunity for eligible businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by the freeze that occurred April 19-21.

Businesses and nonprofits in Cumberland County may qualify for financial assistance to help cover working capital needs, including payroll, fixed debts, accounts payable, and other operating expenses affected by disaster-related economic losses, even if there was no physical damage to the business.

Key details:
✅ Loans up to $2 million
✅ Interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for nonprofits
✅ Terms up to 30 years
✅ No interest accrual or payments due for the first 12 months after disbursement

📅 Application deadline: January 26, 2027

To learn more and apply, visit SBA.gov/disaster or contact the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

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05/27/2026

The CAEDC team had the opportunity to join Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro for a memorable hike along the Appalachian Trail as part of her mission to walk all 229 miles of the trail in Pennsylvania.

Our group began at Scott Farm and hiked 10 miles from Carlisle to Boiling Springs alongside partners from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

It was an incredible day highlighting the natural beauty of Cumberland Valley, the importance of outdoor recreation, and the partnerships that help preserve and promote these community assets. Experiences like this showcase how our region’s trails, parks, and outdoor spaces contribute not only to quality of life, but also to tourism and economic vitality across Pennsylvania.

Thank you to First Lady Lori Shapiro, PADCNR, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for highlighting the value of Pennsylvania’s outdoor spaces and the communities connected by them.

Special thanks to the Pennsylvania State Police for their support and es**rt throughout the hike.

05/22/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for the launch of our 2026 Cumberland Valley Ice Cream Trail! Attendees were treated to a sweet scoop of ice cream from Faye's Ice Cream Parlor.

Sprinkle on the fun this summer by signing up for the free digital passport, checking in at participating spots, and scooping your way toward prizes. This promotion runs from May 21 through September 8.

Click the link below to learn more & download your free passport 🍦
www.visitcumberlandvalley.com/cumberland-valley-ice-cream-trail/

05/18/2026

We are excited to welcome Lia to the team this summer at CAEDC! 👏

Lia is from Camp Hill and graduated from Camp Hill High School in 2025. She is currently an incoming sophomore at Georgetown University, where she is studying economics and exploring a future career at the intersection of business, economic development, and public policy.

Lia joined CAEDC to gain hands-on experience in economic development and to contribute to the community she grew up in. We are thrilled to have her on board and look forward to the impact she will make this summer!

Last week, Lia and Griffin visited Ark Fitness, a local business that CAEDC has previously assisted through funding support. It was great for her to see firsthand how local partnerships and economic development efforts continue to help businesses grow and thrive in our region.

We’re excited for a productive summer ahead and are proud to support the next generation of economic development leaders!

05/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for the Spring Networking Event at Ever Grain Brewing Co.!

It was a great evening filled with meaningful conversations, new connections, and collaboration among our community members. The room was full, the energy was high, and it was wonderful to see so many people come together to strengthen relationships across our business community.

Events like these remind us how valuable strong professional relationships are to the continued growth and success of our region. We look forward to seeing everyone again at a future event!

05/15/2026

Congratulations to Greg on graduating from Leadership Cumberland this morning! 🎉

At CAEDC, we’re proud to support professional and community leadership development through programs like Leadership Cumberland. Each year, we invest in an employee’s participation because strong leadership helps strengthen our organization, our partnerships, and our region.

Over the past several months, Greg has had the opportunity to connect with fellow professionals across Cumberland County, gain deeper insight into the challenges and opportunities facing our community, and further develop his leadership skills.

05/12/2026

Yesterday, the Cumberland Valley tourism community gathered at USAHEC for the Annual Summer Tourism Meeting, and the conversations could not have been more timely or impactful.

A huge thank you to our keynote speaker, Josiah Brown, for challenging us to think differently about the future of destination marketing.

One of the biggest takeaways from the day was the true meaning of destination branding. It is not just logos and campaigns, but the emotional connection visitors have with a place. Every interaction shapes that perception, and building a strong, consumer-first brand requires authenticity, consistency, and community collaboration.

Another highlight of the event was hearing from our panel of content creators and influencer marketing experts, Brittany Brown and Tim&Jordan aka The Hungie Couple. Their insights into storytelling, audience engagement, and authentic content creation reinforced how influential creator partnerships can be in inspiring travel and showcasing destinations in meaningful ways.

We also enjoyed delicious desserts from both Destiny Dairy Bar and Talking Breads! 🍦🍪

Thank you to everyone who attended, participated, and contributed to the conversation. We’re excited to continue working together to strengthen tourism across Cumberland Valley and create memorable visitor experiences for years to come!

05/08/2026

CAEDC is proud to celebrate our CAEDC Community Partner, Members 1st Federal Credit Union, for their recent recognition by TIME Magazine for community impact and leadership, including being named a top financial institutions of 2026.

From supporting first-time homebuyers to strengthening small businesses and protecting members through financial education, Members 1st continues to make a meaningful difference across Central Pennsylvania and beyond.

“Strong leadership, to us, starts with listening, caring and showing up for people,” said Sara Firestone, Vice President of Community and Public Relations at Members 1st Federal Credit Union. “Any recognition we receive is truly humbling because it’s never the reason we do this work. Our leaders and associates genuinely believe we’re all in this together, and that belief shapes how we serve members, support our teams and give back to our communities. It’s incredibly meaningful to see that values-driven leadership come to life in real ways every single day.”

Congratulations to the entire Members 1st team on this well-deserved recognition and for the continued impact you make in our communities.

TIME and Statista have named the best U.S. financial service providers based on consumer surveys.

05/07/2026

CAEDC is happy to share that our very own Communications Manager, Aaron Jumper, was featured on the Destination Marketing Podcast with Adam Stoker!

In this conversation, they discuss what it takes to move from being a marketing tactician to a strategic leader in today’s AI-driven landscape. One key takeaway: success with tools like Claude is not about prompts alone. It is about building deep contextual intelligence that fuels smarter, more meaningful outputs.

Aaron also shares the story behind “Meal Madness,” a creative, bracket-style restaurant tournament that has not only gone viral but has become a powerful, repeatable model for engaging the community and driving real impact for local businesses.

If you are thinking about how to better leverage AI, spark audience engagement, or deliver measurable results in destination marketing, this episode is well worth your time.

🎧 Give it a listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/22e6hVdljQBRxyCKNUWmTw

Destination Marketing Podcast · Episode