When people hear the phrase economic development, they often think about attracting businesses, constructing industrial parks, or supporting local employers. While those efforts are important, they are only part of the picture.
The strongest economies begin with people.
Recently, Adams Economic Alliance President Robin Fitzpatrick attended the United Way of Adams County Ready2Learn Celebration honoring our Early Childhood Education professionals. It was an evening recognizing the teachers and caregivers who invest in our youngest children every day. It was also a reminder that the work happening in our childcare centers and classrooms has an impact that extends far beyond early learning.
Without quality childcare, many parents cannot participate in the workforce. Without a strong workforce, businesses and our local economy struggle to grow. Investing in our youngest residents is also an investment in today’s and tomorrow’s workforce.
That connection is why the Adams Economic Alliance has supported projects that expand childcare opportunities in Adams County. Through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) program, we have helped finance expansions at Little Life Enrichment Center of Gettysburg and Caterpillar Clubhouse of Fairfield. More childcare opportunities mean more parents can pursue careers, more employers have access to workers, and more families can build their future here.
Investing in the next generation doesn’t stop with early childhood.
It continues as students begin exploring career pathways that prepare them for meaningful careers right here in Adams County. Adams County Technical Institute is one of our community’s greatest workforce assets. Among its current offerings is Early Childhood Education, preparing students for careers that are already in demand while strengthening an industry that supports working families.
ACTI recently announced it has identified land for a new campus that will allow the school to expand from eight career programs to fourteen. That investment will create opportunities for more students to pursue careers in healthcare, construction, welding, manufacturing, and other high-demand fields that are essential to our local economy.
Investing in people also means helping families put down roots.
Through the Adams Economic Alliance’s Homebuyer Assistance Program, 19 families have received assistance to purchase homes in Adams County. When families can afford to live where they work, communities become stronger, employers have greater workforce stability, and young people are more likely to see a future here.
Childcare. Education. Housing. Healthcare. Workforce. Quality of life.
These issues are often discussed separately, but they are deeply connected. Together, they create the foundation of a healthy economy and a thriving community.
At the Adams Economic Alliance, we believe economic development is about more than projects and programs. It is about creating opportunities for every stage of life—from our youngest learners in childcare, to students preparing for careers, to families purchasing a home, to employers building a strong workforce.
When we invest in the next generation, we invest in the future of Adams County. And that may be the most important investment we can make.
