FAQs

In 2023, the Frog, Switch and Manufacturing Company made a decision to close the facility after being in business for 125 years. The 26.71-acre property at the eastern gateway to Carlisle Borough was transferred to the Real Estate Collaborative, which will remediate the former industrial site and reposition the property for sale to a master developer.

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.

When Frog Switch realized they would have to shut down, they sought a partner who could help develop the site into a valuable asset for the community. The leadership team at Frog Switch approached REC and expressed their desire for the site to become a gateway into Carlisle Borough. Frog Switch is ingrained in the borough’s history, and they did not want to tarnish its legacy by struggling to find a buyer, causing blight, or selecting the wrong developer and ending up with a site the community wouldn’t support.

There is no debating the need to address the threats to community safety that currently exist at the Frog Switch site.  REC has had a plan from the beginning to do just that.  In general, any site contamination and hazardous building materials will be addressed in accordance with federal and Pennsylvania regulations to protect site workers and the surrounding community.  REC and their environmental consulting team have already engaged with the PADEP and developed an approved remedial workplan for addressing site contamination under the Commonwealth’s Voluntary Cleanup Program.  REC is also currently in the process of hiring a certified abatement and demolition contractor to safely remove the hazardous materials found in the large manufacturing buildings.  For example, asbestos containing materials (ACM) must be removed in a manner that prevents release of asbestos fibers into the environment. The safest way to do that is during the demolition of the building.  Attempts to preserve building structure while removing ACM results in a dangerous work environment for the contractors and increases the risks that ACM fiber will be released to the surrounding area. During the planned demolition, the demolition debris (containing the hazardous materials) is carefully collected, tested. documented, and transported to approved disposal facilities.  REC anticipated and planned for these remediation and demolition/abatement activities and has secured adequate funding to complete them as outlined in the public funding applications that were supported by local, state and federal government partners. REC’s intent has always been to prepare the Frog Switch site for a redevelopment that benefits not only the Carlisle community, but the entire region.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) conducted a Phase II environmental site assessment in the fall of 2025. The results of this study were summarized by BL Companies, an environmental consultant for the Real Estate Collaborative. The summary is available here.

Yes. The Real Estate Collaborative (REC) strives for transparency and remediation progress will be updated on this website as well as through our social media channels.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a brownfield as “a property where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.”

Here are five key benefits of remediating brownfield sites, and how these efforts support community revitalization.

Improved Public Health & Environmental Safety

Removing contaminants such as asbestos, heavy metals, or petroleum byproducts reduces exposure risks for nearby residents and ecosystems. This promotes cleaner air, soil, and water—contributing to a safer living environment.

Restoration of Underutilized Land

Remediation transforms vacant or blighted properties into assets. It enables land that once posed liability or hazard to be re-integrated into the community fabric, making it available for new, beneficial uses.

Increased Property Values

Brownfield cleanup often leads to increased property values—not just on the remediated site but in surrounding neighborhoods. This can enhance local tax revenue and attract additional investment.

Catalyst for Economic Development

Clean, pad-ready sites are more attractive to private developers.   

Redevelopment can create new opportunities for housing, commercial use, light industry, or community spaces—spurring job creation and economic activity.

Preservation of Greenspace & Limiting Sprawl

By reinvesting in already-developed land, brownfield remediation reduces the need to build on undeveloped (greenfield) land. This supports sustainable land use and protects natural habitats and farmland. 

The role of the Real Estate Collaborative (REC) is to prepare the site for a master developer. Once REC completes demolition and remediation activities, it will solicit a request for proposals, asking private entities to submit preliminary plans for the redevelopment of the site. REC will then sell the property, enabling diverse economic opportunities to flourish in the borough.

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. 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. 

The Real Estate Collaborative (REC) acquired the site for closing costs only. Frog Switch generously donated the land to REC to oversee the remediation efforts and guide redevelopment of the site.

In March 2024, REC was awarded a Local Share Account (LSA) Category 4 grant totaling $94,389 for demolition, engineering, and administrative costs associated with the project. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) website, “The PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Act 2004-71), as amended, provides for the distribution of gaming revenues from Category 4 licensed facilities through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to support projects in the public interest within the host counties.”

In May 2025, the project was awarded a $6,136,698 grant and a $4,091,132 loan, totaling $10,227,830, through the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites program (PA SITES) to stabilize and secure the site, demolish the former industrial buildings, and conduct environmental remediation activities. 

REC FS, LLC is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to secure a $750,000 Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund award to assist with remediation activities at Frog Switch.

Additionally, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has provided the following support:

1. In 2022, US EPA Marketing Plan/Technical Assistance was provided to CAEDC upon CAEDC’s receipt of a potential plan for the site.
2. The US EPA is using their vendor to conduct a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment at no cost.
3. In May 2025, CAEDC received a $500,000 Brownfields Community-Wide Assessment Grant from the US EPA to develop a county-wide brownfields inventory. A portion of this award could potentially be used for reuse planning at the Frog Switch site.

While this is yet to be determined, it will be up to the master developer to decide when, where, and how the history of Frog Switch would be recognized on the site.

The Cumberland County Historical Society is the repository for various archival material from the company. In addition, REC is saving some molds which can be used to create concrete casts for sculptures that can be placed along a walking path that might be developed.

Read more about the history and legacy of the Frog, Switch & Manufacturing Co. and the Hays family.