Overview

In July 2023, the Frog, Switch & Manufacturing Company announced its intention to close their Carlisle, PA, facility after 125 years. In August 2024, the Real Estate Collaborative (REC), a subsidiary of the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC), signed a sales agreement to acquire the former Frog Switch property. The transaction included the acquisition of the entire 26.71-acre site.  

The Frog Switch site has been used for industrial purposes for approximately 185 years. The Frog Switch name comes from the railroad “frogs” and “switches” that were once produced extensively at the site. Most recently, the company produced manganese steel castings for crushers. The complex consists of a patchwork of buildings, many of which have a shell-like structure that housed foundry and casting operations. Large 15-foot subsurface pits and decades-old steel machines occupy the largest buildings. 

REC Chairman, Andrew Notarfrancesco, notes, “This is a significant opportunity for the REC and the Carlisle community. We are committed to the transformation of the site and creating a landmark opportunity for redevelopment. The future of this site is incredibly bright.” 

In March 2024, REC received $94,389 from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s LSA Category 4 funds for demolition, engineering, and administrative costs associated with demolition at the Frog Switch plant.

Then, in May 2025, REC was awarded more than $10.2 million through the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites Program (PA SITES) to transform the industrial complex into a pad-ready site for future mixed-use development. The award included $6,136,698 in grant funding, and a $4,091,132 loan. With more than 40 buildings and a landfill, the site, located on High Street at Carlisle Borough’s Eastern gateway, is one of the largest industrial properties in need of redevelopment in Cumberland County. Located just a few minutes from Interstates 81 and 76, the site is an ideal location to foster development. 

“We are very appreciative of Governor Shapiro and Secretary Siger’s leadership on the economic development front, and we are ecstatic that the Governor and his team have awarded REC the critical funding necessary to move the project forward,” notes Jon Cox, CAEDC’s Board Chair and a member of the REC management group. “Without intervention, redevelopment of this site would not be economically viable and would risk further deterioration, blight, and safety issues for the community.” 

The Real Estate Collaborative (REC) operates as a subsidiary real estate development company of the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC) and was formed in 2016 to repurpose underutilized properties throughout Cumberland County. REC is comprised of unpaid volunteers who lend their individual expertise to help support CAEDC’s goal of economic vitality for Cumberland County’s communities.

Recent News

February 18, 2025: Cumberland County Commissioners Lend Support Behind Effort to Secure State Funding for Frog Switch Site (Cumberlink)

May 29, 2025: Formerly Cumberland County Frog, Switch Facility Under New Ownership (abc27)

June 4, 2025: New Owners, New Era: Real Estate Collaborative Closes on Frog, Switch & Manufacturing Site (Shippensburg News-Chronicle)

Next Steps

Numerous factors play a role in the project timeline. The results of the current Phase II Environment Site Assessment by the EPA can either shorten or lengthen the timeline, depending upon whether contaminants are found. Land development approvals, permits, and funding can also slow progress. REC is meeting with Carlisle Borough regularly to provide updates.

Currently, the projected timeline could be as few as 3 years to as many as 10 years.