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 we're doing with Expedia and hotels.com ... we saw a 10.4 return on ad spend,” Laura Delaney, CAEDC director of tourism and marketing, said during the presentation.

Staff also reported program-level activity: CAEDC said it has issued $265,000 in loans coupled with $90,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) assistance to small businesses; those investments are projected to support 11 jobs and generate about $2,800,000 in total economic impact over three years, CAEDC staff reported.

On grants and awards, CAEDC said it was notified this year that it secured a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Communitywide Assessment Grant. The grant work is planned in three phases: a countywide brownfield inventory, prioritized site assessments, and area-wide reuse planning for five priority sites. CAEDC said it issued an RFP for a qualified environmental professional, with proposals due the Friday following the presentation, and that Phase 1 site assessments are complete for at least one property; Phase 2 work was scheduled to begin in mid‑October but CAEDC noted timing could be affected by a pending federal budget.

CAEDC gave a detailed update on FrogSwitch, a county-owned site acquired with a $10.2 million PA Sites package (60% grant / 40% loan). Staff described storm and fence damage after acquisition, a July fire at the facility that local fire departments limited, and social‑media reports of rattlesnakes that Fish and Boat Commission staff later said showed no evidence of. CAEDC completed a Phase 1 environmental assessment in April and expected Phase 2 in mid‑October; it retained SR Duffy Consulting as owner’s representative to assist with bidding, contracts and a master-developer RFP. CAEDC also launched a public microsite for FrogSwitch to share status updates.

Other items in the presentation included recertification as the county’s economic development organization for state programs; ongoing promotion and enrollment in the state’s PA Sites online platform (CAEDC reported seven sites posted as of the presentation); active solicitation for Local Share Account applications (CAEDC’s internal deadline Oct. 31; state deadline Nov. 30); and outreach events, where staff reported 91 events attended April–August and distribution of more than 39,000 visitor guides.

Commissioners asked CAEDC staff for further detail on return on investment for the hotel tax that funds much of CAEDC’s work, clarification of geolocation‑modeling methods used to estimate visitor days and overnights, and additional breakdowns that distinguish in‑market visitors from drive‑through traffic. CAEDC staff said their geolocation partner models devices that opt in to location tracking and filters visitors originating 50+ miles away and age 18+, and that modeled totals can include drive‑through devices such as commercial truck traffic.

CAEDC staff said a first draft of its 2026 budget had been presented to the CAEDC finance committee and board and that a final draft would be returned to the county in November for approval.

Commissioners did not take formal votes on CAEDC items at the meeting; the presentation was informational and followed by questions and requests for additional data.