Earlier this month, the Shapiro Administration announced a smart investment in Lancaster County’s agriculture sector: The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Agency will provide a $1.5 million loan to farm equipment dealer Hoover Co. to build a 13,920-square-foot facility in Lancaster County.
The 15-year loan to Hoober Inc. at 4.25 percent reinterest will fund the construction of a headquarters building in Leacock Township to house the company’s technical and administrative staff. The total cost of the project is $3 million. The company has committed to creating 10 new full-time jobs within three years and retaining 90 existing jobs.
Think about it: there are 100 full-time incomes in Lancaster County that could support a family.
But it tells an even bigger story when you realize that the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority’s investment is a testament to just how important Lancaster County’s agricultural sector is to the economic success of the county and the state as a whole.
As reported by LNP|LancasterOnline, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Lancaster County’s diversified agricultural sector was the largest contributor to the county’s 1.4% increase in gross domestic product in 2022. The bureau also found that Lancaster County’s agricultural sector had the largest GDP in the state that year, accounting for about 27% of the state’s agricultural GDP of $5.6 billion. Additionally, agricultural output accounted for $1.5 billion (not adjusted for inflation), about 4% of Lancaster County’s GDP.
Lancaster County’s lush countryside not only produces bountiful harvests, but also draws tourists, with a record 9.92 million visitors expected in 2023.
Citing a recent Tourism Economics report, LNP | LancasterOnline reported that these visitors spent $2.58 billion here eating, shopping, playing and staying. One of the main reasons Lancaster County attracts so many visitors is its farmland and culture. Agritourism also benefits many other sectors, including hotels, restaurants, theme parks and local small businesses.
And there is plenty of room for economic growth in the agricultural sector, made possible by smart investments by the Shapiro Administration.
Lancaster County farms are booming thanks to farmer innovation — from diversifying income streams and exploring new markets to developing new forms of customer engagement and fostering agritourism. But to be successful in forging these new avenues in their farm business, farmers need our help building the infrastructure they need.
The Shapiro administration rose to this challenge by making the agriculture sector a key pillar of its economic development strategy.
The cornerstone of the Shapiro Administration’s agriculture support efforts is the $13.8 million Pennsylvania Farm Bill, which has contributed $120 million to agriculture since 2019. Farm Bill programs build and retain the agricultural workforce, invest in food processing infrastructure and remove barriers to entry into agriculture.
My Administration recently announced that we will protect farmland in 19 counties, including Lancaster, from future residential and commercial development by purchasing development rights. Those farms approved for the purchase of conservation easements will provide Pennsylvania farmers with the security they need to grow and thrive.
Of particular interest within the Governor’s economic strategy is a $10 million Agriculture Innovation Program in the recently passed 2024-2025 state budget, which will help the agriculture sector make the most of its assets.
The program seeks to develop innovative solutions to complex agricultural and environmental problems, enabling the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to provide grants to farms and other agriculture-related businesses to implement new agricultural technologies, conservation practices and renewable energy innovations that improve farmers’ ability to generate profits, enhance soil and water resources and increase on-farm energy production.
These smart strategic investments will help ensure Pennsylvania’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry remains a national leader, now and into the future.
By providing the resources needed to ensure our agricultural sector is resilient, diverse and sustainable, the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority and other programs will help Lancaster County’s economy reap a bountiful harvest of full-time jobs, well-funded schools, thriving farms and small businesses.
Thanks to the Shapiro Administration’s strategic investments in the agriculture industry, the future looks bright for Lancaster County.
Democratic State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El represents the 49th House District, which includes parts of Lancaster City, Lancaster Township and Millersville Borough. X (Previous Twitter): @RepIzzy.
