Engage! is a Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development initiative featuring a robust team of experienced professionals who proactively listen to businesses across the state, identify their opportunities and challenges, and offer targeted technical assistance and solutions. Adams Economic Alliance Director of Business and Community Outreach leads the program for the Adams Economic Alliance.

Rodgers believes Engage! is one of his most important responsibilities because these visits allow our team to connect businesses with resources and help retain and grow business in Adams County. Through these visits, we learn from Adams County business leaders about challenges and opportunities, allowing us to become stronger advocates on a local, regional and state level for economic growth in Adams County.

The 2024-25 Engage! The program included 18 visits to some of Adams County’s largest employers in Agriculture, Manufacturing and tourism. 

Brady and the Alliance team learned that 2025 is a year of milestones, innovation, and growth in Adams County.

Milestones

Several Adams County businesses are celebrating major anniversaries this year. Congratulations to:

  • Hollabaugh’s Bros. Inc. – 70 years.
  • Rice Fruit Company – 70 years.
  • Apple Valley Creamery – 20 years. (The Alliance was proud to partner with the creamery when they built their farm market.) 
  • GVM Inc. – 50 years 
  • All of these operations are family-owned and passed from generation to generation.

Innovation

Innovation is key to sustainability. Here is how a few businesses are looking towards the future.

  • Spectra-Kote, located in the Borough of Gettysburg, continues to grow and invest in Spectra-Kote’s innovative blends to be a premier supplier of coatings and coated board, color and functional grades, to converters across North America.
  • GVM Inc. designs and builds the most reliable, innovative, and versatile snow and farm equipment on the market today.  GVM Inc. has now expanded their equipment to include drones for agricultural spray applications. These innovative pieces of agricultural equipment are cost-effective and improve efficiency.

Earth Friendly

Adams County manufacturers are seeking to reduce waste, enhance efficiency, and preserve the environment.

  • G&S Foods recently constructed a start-of-the-art energy energy-efficient food manufacturing facility in Adams County. They continue to invest in renewable energy with plans to have solar panels over the new facilities parking lots. Conewago Enterprises was the lead contractor for the new G&S facility. 
  • Conewago Enterprises is also reducing waste and recycling. Conewago produces insulated sandwich panels, architectural precast panels, and hollow core plank. The remaining scraps of insulation from the manufacturing process are fully recycled. 
  • Emeco in Hanover has been recycling and reusing materials to manufacture furniture. One interesting piece of furniture was a chair made in partnership with Coca-Cola called the 111 Navy Chair. It gets its name from the 111 recycled plastic bottles it took to manufacture.

Growth

Many Adams County businesses continue to grow and expand their operations. 

  • Three Springs Fruit Farm is a seventh-generation family farm that brings fresh tree fruit, berries, tomatoes, vegetables, and products made with them to markets all over the Mid-Atlantic. They have recently expanded their own processing operation for Ploughman Cider and plan to create a unique event space in Northern Adams County.
  • Gettysburg Tours is best known for its classic double-decker buses that circle Downtown Gettysburg. Owner Max Felty shared they have a beautiful new gift shop and are now expanding their bus tours to include regional trips.  Some of the upcoming regional tours include historic Philadelphia and Longwood Gardens Illuminated Fountains.
  • Little Life Enrichment Center, the largest childcare provider in Adams County, has big plans to continue to grow and meet the very important need for childcare across Adams County. Hopefully, you saw the recent article in the Gettysburg Times about Little Life Enrichment Center purchasing the Gettysburg YMCA Childcare Center.

Thank you to all the businesses that were gracious with their time and knowledge.