Faces of the Adams County Industrial Development Authority: Gary Hartman (solicitor), Michael Hanson, Ronald Hankey, James Williams, Ken Farabaugh, Justin Hockley, and Max Felty. Missing from photo: John Lott and Kaycee Kemper.

GETTYSBURG, PA (March 11, 2020) – The eight-member Adams County Industrial Development Corporation (ACIDA) recently reorganized, with two board members’ terms renewed, and set 2020 goals including continued progress on the development of the Gettysburg Station project. The ACIDA functions as one of three organizations under the umbrella of Adams Economic Alliance.

Board members whose five-year terms were recently renewed by the Adams County Commissioners include:

  • Ronald Hankey, Vice Chair, retired from ACNB Bank
  • Michael Hanson, Lake Heritage Manager

Continuing their volunteer service on the ACIDA Board are:

  • James Williams, Chairman, CE Williams Sons Inc.
  • Max Felty, Treasurer, Gettysburg Tours, Inc.
  • Justin Hockley, Secretary, Hockley & O’Donnell Insurance Agency
  • Kenneth Farabaugh
  • John Lott, Bear Mountain Orchards, Inc.
  • Kaycee Kemper, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Adams Economic Alliance

“Adams County is truly fortunate to have the guiding expertise and wisdom of these community-minded individuals, because the ACIDA’s work is a vital component of the Alliance’s economic activities,” said Robin Fitzpatrick, Alliance President. “A key purpose of their work is providing bond financing for public and private projects which stimulates and increases Adams County’s tax base.”

The ACIDA was created in 1998 by act of the Adams County Commissioners, and capitalized by the Alliance’s Adams County Economic Development Corporation. ACIDA is the leading agency authorized under Pennsylvania law to submit financing applications on behalf of business entities. Manufacturing firms, 501(c)(3) organizations and Federally defined exempt facilities qualify for the tax-exempt financing program. All projects must qualify under federal tax laws and pass bond counsel approval.

Hankey and Williams have both served on the ACIDA Board since its inception in 1998.

The ACIDA currently owns and is overseeing the Gettysburg Station property in downtown Gettysburg.

“The successful development of this valuable property is of great importance to the Borough of Gettysburg and the larger community,” said Hankey. “Also, the IDA has been an important partner in other key projects in our community by providing bond financing to organizations such as the Gettysburg Foundation, Gettysburg College and several others.”

The Gettysburg Station project has been through several iterations since initial redevelopment efforts began in 2001, when the project was known as REDDI. The 2-acre site, identified collectively as 108 N. Stratton Street is situated one block north of Lincoln Square, west of the Gettysburg College campus and adjacent to the historic Lincoln Train Station and CSX Rail Line.

The ACIDA purchased the property from the ACNB Bank on April 30, 2013 for $1.3 million and began the permitting process to seek necessary approvals from state and local government for the deconstruction of existing buildings and site readiness.

“We worked closely with Gettysburg Borough leaders to understand the type of development they desired on this downtown site, which was a mix of commercial, retail and residential uses. Demolition of several large buildings on the site occurred in 2014, then environmental studies were completed to prepare the site for development,” Williams said.

“Over the next several years, the ACIDA received inquiries and offers from prospective developers. The site could have been sold for uses that were not consistent with the vision of the Borough, but we held off until we had the right developer with the correct intentions,” Williams said.

In 2018, ACIDA entered into a sales contract with Tim Harrison, a developer from Staten Island. Harrison has been working with the ACIDA and the Borough to bring the project to fruition.

Harrison is scheduled to make a public presentation at the March 23 Gettysburg Borough Council workshop, set for 7 p.m. at the Gettysburg Municipal Building.

“This project has taken longer than many people had hoped for, but we remained loyal to the premise of facilitating the right type of development for the Borough,” Williams said. “Hopefully, in the near future, plans will be approved and the project, that many had high hopes for, will be successfully completed.”

The IDA is one of three organizations under the umbrella Adams Economic Alliance, whose mission is to develop and implement creative community-based strategies to enhance economic opportunity and foster a dynamic framework for balanced growth and development through the Adams County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC), Adams County Industrial Development Authority (ACIDA) and Adams County General Authority (ACGA).

“Possibly the most important accomplishment of the ACIDA over the years has been making the community aware of the value of economic opportunities through balanced growth and development which is a part of the organization’s mission statement.  Prior to the creation of the IDA and its related organizations, no such organization(s) existed for this purpose,” noted Hankey.

For more information on the Alliance, see adamsalliance.org, or follow the Alliance on Twitter (@AdamsAlliance), Facebook (Facebook.com/AdamsAlliance) and LinkedIn (Adams Economic Alliance).

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