Cumberland Valley features abundant and fertile farmland, with 43% of the county designated for agricultural use, supporting 1,100 working farms and over 146,000 acres of farmland. Residents and visitors relish the taste of locally grown produce, dairy products, and meats, which can be found at roadside stands, weekly farmers’ markets, and bakeries.

Beyond its tourism value, agribusiness and agritourism strengthen Cumberland County’s economic competitiveness. Businesses and talent increasingly look to communities that offer fresh, local food as key quality-of-life factors. These assets not only attract visitors but also retain residents, draw new investment, and support workforce recruitment.

See below for a variety of resources for your Agribusiness and Agritourism projects.

CAEDC Tourism Programs:

Contact information for each CAEDC Tourism Program can be found on the Program’s page.

PA Agriculture Business Development Center
Stephanie Shirk, Director
email: steshirk@pa.gov
phone: 717.307.3262

USDA Rural Development
Dethon Kistler, Loan Specialist
email: dethon.kistler@usda.gov
phone: 717.237.2284

Center for Plant Excellence
Miranda Harple, Interim Director
email: mharple@psu.edu
phone: 717.706.6036

Additional Agribusiness and Agritourism Resources

Success Story

Ark Fitness: Building Strength, Community, and Opportunity in Mechanicsburg

Without that support and CAEDC seeing the value in investing in us, we would not have been able to essentially double our business. It allowed us to expand our impact.

Noah Snyder, Ark Fitness Owner

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Success Story

Denim Coffee Company: Creating a Better Visitor Experience in Downtown Carlisle

Without the grant, we probably would have just limped along. Instead, it jumpstarted the entire process. There are a lot of people deserving of grant funding, and we don’t take that lightly. We’ve tried to steward that money as well as we could.

Matt Ramsay, Co-owner

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Success Story

Classic Dry Cleaners: Carrying On a Family Legacy

“CAEDC not only helped us access funding—they helped us find opportunities we didn’t know existed.”

Paula Kostick, Classic Drycleaners

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Success Story

CAEDC Supports Downtown Carlisle Beautification Projects

“Beautification has always been our main initiative. This grant allowed us to complete all the projects we envisioned. The improvements contribute to a thriving downtown that’s inviting to both locals and visitors.”

Stacey Gould, DCA’s Main Street Manager

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