Cumberland Valley boasts over 54,000 acres for Outdoor Recreation, including 200 miles of trails, three state parks, two state forests, scenic waterways and 46 miles of the Appalachian Trail, including its official midway point. Visitors to Cumberland Valley regularly indicate the natural beauty of the area is their favorite thing about their experience, and many visit to explore our outdoor recreation assets.

Beyond its tourism value, outdoor recreation strengthens Cumberland County’s economic competitiveness. Businesses and talent increasingly look to communities that offer accessible trails, green spaces, and recreation amenities 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 funding opportunities for your Outdoor Recreation project.

CAEDC Tourism Programs:

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

Cumberland County:

Cumberland County Land Partnerships Grant Contact
Stephanie Williams, Senior Planning Manager
Cumberland County Planning Department
email: [email protected]
phone: 717.240.5383

DCED Grant Programs:

*Interested non-profit applicants can apply through the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC).

DCED Grants Contact
Devin Gray, CFA Programs Division Director
Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
email: [email protected]
phone: 717.787.6245

DCNR Grant Programs:

DCNR Grants Contact
Lori K. Yeich, Recreation and Conservation Manager
North Central/South Central Regional Office
Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, DCNR
email: [email protected]
phone: 717.702.2043

SMP Grant Programs:

SMP Grants Contact
Julia Chain, Program Manager
South Mountain Partnership
email: [email protected]
Phone: 717.794.6071

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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