Despite the freezing temperatures and ice that seemed to linger far longer than my personal liking, winter is nearly behind us, and spring is almost upon us. There’s something hopeful about this time of year — longer days, brighter skies, and the quiet sense that new growth is just around the corner.
Here at the Adams Economic Alliance, we have certainly started the year strong. Our team has been hard at work researching and organizing our 250 Years of Industry & Innovation in Adams County celebration — proudly recognized as an official America 250 PA event. As we dig through archives and uncover stories of the entrepreneurs, manufacturers, farmers, and innovators who built this county, one thing becomes clear: Adams County has always been a place of resilience, ingenuity, and forward momentum.
We’ve also been planning something exciting for the fall — and while I can’t share the details just yet, I promise it will be worth the wait.
March has always been one of my favorite months. Nature begins to wake from its winter rest, and there are few places more beautiful than Adams County in the spring. From rolling farmland to blossoming orchards, we are reminded that growth is not just seasonal — it’s foundational to who we are.
It’s fitting that March is also National Agriculture Week. National Ag Day will be celebrated on March 24th this year, with the 2026 theme, “Together We Grow.” I couldn’t imagine a more appropriate theme for Adams County. Agriculture has shaped our landscape, fueled our economy, and defined our identity for generations. But “Together We Grow” speaks to more than crops and orchards — it speaks to community.
That sense of shared growth is especially timely as Pennsylvania recently announced its new statewide Housing Action Plan — a comprehensive effort focused on expanding housing opportunity, increasing production, and strengthening communities across the Commonwealth. Housing, like agriculture, is foundational. When families have access to attainable, quality housing, communities thrive. Workforce grows. Schools strengthen. Businesses expand.
At the Adams Economic Alliance, our reason for being is simple: Leading Responsible, Diverse Economic Growth. That means supporting the conditions that allow families, farms, and businesses to succeed — including access to housing that allows people to put down roots here.
One of the most rewarding initiatives in our office has been our homebuyer assistance loan program. We have now completed 15 homebuyer assistance loans, helping young families purchase homes and establish long-term roots right here in Adams County. There is nothing more encouraging than watching new homeowners invest in their future — and in our community’s future.
As we step into spring, I am reminded that growth doesn’t happen by accident. It takes partnership. It takes vision. And most importantly, it takes people who care deeply about where they live.
In Adams County, together, we grow — in our fields, in our neighborhoods, and in our future.
