I know it’s a cheesy saying, but teamwork really does make the dream work. Case in point, at a recent staff meeting, my colleagues Kaycee Kemper, Brady Rodgers and I all paused to take time to reflect on our 2024 highlights. And each one of us recapped completely different projects!

Brady, our Director of Business and Community Outreach, talked about the monthly food distribution for Adams County veterans that—sparked by the Alliance—he and other members of the Adams County Veterans Advocate Network (VAN) launched in 2024.

“So many of our projects have long lead times, but with the MiliaryShare food distributions, I get to see the direct impact of what we do,” Brady describes.

He is also struck by the generosity of the Adams County community participating and donating to the food distributions. Plainville Farms, in particular, made an impression.

“Plainville donated 50 turkeys to our veterans, but I can’t speak highly enough of them, because I had the opportunity to see that they gave so many more to the community,” Brady said.

Those community connections are what make our work so vibrant and meaningful—for Brady, as well as for Kaycee Kemper, Alliance Vice President.

Kaycee’s highlight moments in 2024 included the closing of two large business loans—to Graphcom and Little Life Enrichment Center. Both of these businesses realized expansion projects, directly impacting Adams County’s workforce.

“’From Idea to Reality,’ the Hispanic business fair that we organized in October, was also a highlight,” Kaycee recalls, “because of the incredible attendance and all the community connections we witnessed throughout the evening.”

And as for me? My standout moments in 2024 include the progress we are making, in bringing the Gettysburg Foundry property back to life. Working so closely with the county, I’m grateful that they’ve entrusted this project to us. None of us are environmental engineers, and we’ve learned so much. For example, I now know that aluminum breaks down into certain chemicals, which soak into the ground, prompting specific grasses to grow. There are fascinating details I’d never learn in this lifetime, without this job.

I’m also grateful for each one of our board members—and how every one of them brings a different skillset, different perspectives to our organization and our conversations.

Teamwork does make the dream work. And that includes you too! During this holiday season, as we look back upon 2024 and look forward to 2025, we are humbly asking for individuals, organizations and businesses of all sizes and types to consider becoming an Investor. More information is on our website—linked here, under the “Investor” tab!

Together, we are, and can continue to make Adams County a thriving, vibrant place to live, work and play.

Robin Fitzpatrick is President of Adams Economic Alliance, which comprises three organizations: The Adams County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC), the Adams County Industrial Development Authority (ACIDA) and the Adams County General Authority (ACGA). Follow us on Instagram (@adamscountypa) Twitter (@AdamsAlliance), Facebook (Facebook.com/AdamsAlliance) and LinkedIn (Adams Economic Alliance).

This column originally published in the Gettysburg Times, December 12, 2024.