CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – “We are in a good place, the proceptivity is strong, the opportunity and things available to us is strong.”
That was the statement shared with the guests by Franklin County Area Development Corporation President Mike Ross, at the FCADC’s 40th Anniversary luncheon held at the Orchards Restaurant and Lounge in Chambersburg on Tuesday, March 3.
The event was called “State of the Economy” where many of the leaders from both Franklin and Washington counties met with business owners, school officials and banking and development representatives to not only celebrate the corporation’s anniversary but to shed some light on what is happening in development around the region now and in the future.
Ross summed up the luncheon with this statement, “Forty years ago, the community leaders came together with a simple, powerful belief, that Franklin County’s future could be shaped — on purpose — through partnership, investment and a commitment to opportunity.”
Those beliefs led to the formation of the FCADC, and Ross has headed the corporation since the beginning. Through their efforts, the FCADC has brought and maintained jobs in the county, helped big and small businesses thrive and used the land and infrastructure in every borough and township to create a strong foundation of prosperity in the region.
Projects that are on the horizon that were shared by Ross included a strategy to reuse the Penn State Mont Alto campus that will close in mid-year 2027 as a training and education center. No specific details have been formed as of yet, but that is the direction the conversation is going, according to Ross.
There are also plans to use the old Chambersburg Mall building and the Scotland School. While all three of these locations come with a degree of challenges due to their poor condition, talks are in place to either restructure the facilities or find a better use for the properties to bring more opportunities to the communities.
Franklin County is also known for its agriculture. The county ranks 10th in the state for preserved acreage and has more than 1,400 family farms which makes up 53% of the land in the region. The FCADC supports the ag growth in the region by supporting $193.5 million of capital investments, $22.5 million in economic development resources and 900 ag jobs created and retained through 63 ag projects.
During the luncheon, a video was shared featuring the journey of the FCADC from its early beginnings honoring members like Ross; Dave Sciamanna, a former president of the Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce; Warren Elliott, who was once a Franklin County Commissioner; and many others who have worked hard to form and structure the FCADC to what it is today.
In its 40 years of existence, the corporation has brought in $3.7 billion in new capital expenditures and 1,073 projects, which have spawned over 62,000 jobs in Franklin County.
Ross and the FCADC were also honored by the county commissioners, Chairman Dean Horst, Vice Chair John Flannery and Secretary Robert Ziobrowski, who all made statements about the significant work that the corporation has done and how important their future efforts will be.
Ross summed up the event and last 40 years of service with this statement.
“As we reflect on the last 40 years, we also look ahead. The next chapter will demand the same qualities that built the first: collaboration, creativity and a willingness to invest in what matters.”
Ross also stated that the corporation was ready to face that challenge. To commit itself to supporting new projects that will strengthen the region and offer more opportunities in the competitive and changing economy.
For more information about what the FCADC is and its history and future projects, readers may visit the website at: https://fcadc.com/
