GETTYSBURG, PA (August 16, 2018) – Adams County poultry farmers Deborah and John Winand Jr, of Double W Farms, purchased a 19-acre Straban Township poultry farm financed in part via a low-interest loan facilitated through Adams Economic Alliance and Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) to increase the family’s poultry operations in the county.

A $400,000 15-year low-interest (3.75%) loan processed through the Alliance’s Adams County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC) and PIDA assisted the Winands in the purchase of the farm located at 2315 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg.

The Winands, who have owned and operated a large-scale Adams County poultry farm for more than 25 years, are purchasing the Straban Township farm for their grown children. The family raises turkeys for Plainville Farms, chickens for Empire Kosher, and manages a cow/beef operation, horse breeding, along with crop production. Additionally, the Winands are contracted with Plainfield Farms to distribute sawdust shavings to all Plainfield poultry farms in the state, which is used as poultry bedding.

“This is one of the larger PIDA loans we have administered for an Adams County business,” says Robin Fitzpatrick, Alliance President. “We recognize the deep-rooted economic and agricultural contributions by the Winand family at the county, state and Mid-Atlantic regional levels. They are shining examples of hard-working and successful Adams County farmers, and we are thrilled to support the expansion of their family’s thriving agricultural operations.”

Financing was organized by Alliance Vice President Kaycee Kemper through PIDA and Wayne Steinour, senior vice president and agribusiness lending manager, ACNB Bank.

“It’s always a pleasure working with Adams Economic Alliance professionals Kaycee Kemper and Robin Fitzpatrick to structure a loan specifically to help meet the unique business needs of Adams County agricultural families. This collaborative partnership is beneficial to all parties involved and works to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients,” says Steinour.

The Winands previously secured a low-interest PIDA loan through the Alliance to purchase a turkey farm at 710 Russell Tavern Road, Gettysburg in 2013.

“Establishing on-going relationships with business owners is a win-win situation,” says Kemper. “It translates into additional economic activity, not only for business owners like the Winands, plus the Alliance, but it ultimately generates additional financial activity within the county and state.”

ACEDC is certified annually by DCED in order to process and administer loan and grant programs for Adams County’s businesses. Kemper encourages Adams County’s aspiring entrepreneurs as well as established businesses to contact her regarding potential loan and grant opportunities.

Additionally, the Winands’ ACNB Bank loan will allow the family to purchase an East Berlin poultry farm which, along with the farm on Old Harrisburg Road, will be operated by the Winands’ grown children.

“ACEDC has been successful in assisting our family with securing low-interest loans over the years and taking the stress and worry out of borrowing,” says John Winand.

“To us, we found more than a ‘lending company;’ we found friends. Kaycee has been wonderful to work with and will ‘dig in’ to help make the process as smooth as possible,” adds Debbie Winand.

The Winands’ latest PIDA loan marks the 145th low-interest business loan facilitated by ACEDC—and the 48th within Adams County’s agricultural community—since 1996. Previous agricultural loan projects, located throughout the entire county, supported projects that included cattle, orchards, chickens, crop production, eggs, wineries and more.  Agriculture is considered one of Adams County’s three main pillars of industry, along with tourism and manufacturing/industrial.

Overall, since 1996, ACEDC has secured $29.3 million+ in total public investment via low-interest loans and grants from DCED and $78.2 million+ in total private investment via local commercial financing.

The Adams Economic Alliance (AEA), is comprised of three organizations: The Adams County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC), the Adams County Industrial Development Authority (ACIDA) and the Adams County General Authority (ACGA). For more information, see adamsalliance.org, call 717-334-0042, or follow AEA on Twitter (@AdamsAlliance), Facebook (Facebook.com/AdamsAlliance) and LinkedIn (Adams Economic Alliance).

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MEDIA CONTACT: KAREN HENDRICKS / HENDRICKS COMMUNICATIONS / 717-253-3553