Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation reports tourism growth, $2.8M lending impact and wins U.S. EPA brownfields grant

CAEDC presented an October 2025 update to the Cumberland County Finance Committee on tourism, marketing and economic development programs, reporting higher visitor spending, growth in digital engagement and new grant and loan activity.

In a presentation to commissioners, CAEDC staff said visitor spending in Cumberland County rose 4.3% year over year (2024 compared with 2023) and that statewide economic-impact reporting estimates annual visitor spending at $996,000,000. The organization reported tourism supported roughly 6,500 jobs and about $248,000,000 in labor income in 2024; one commissioner later cited a slightly different figure from CAEDC materials of 6,530 jobs and $248,600,000 in labor income.

CAEDC highlighted tourism-marketing results including a paid campaign with Expedia/Hotels.com that returned $10.40 for every $1 spent during a recent period, a 94% year‑over‑year increase in economic-development form fills (97 in 2025 vs. 50 in 2024), and a marked rise in social- and email-engagement metrics. “For tourism specifically, in a campaign that…