Adams County is at a Crossroads, but do we have the courage to move forward?

Adams County is at a crossroads.  According to the Adams County Community Foundation, 50 percent of all scholarship applicants from 2025 planned to pursue tech, trade and certificate programs.

Adams County Technical School does an amazing job preparing our students for a career in technical fields.  However, the school’s space has quickly become too small for demand.  Adams County is only one of two counties in the entire Commonwealth that does not have a high school dedicated to technical trades.

We can continue to cobble together a patchwork of small career pathways, or we can invest in a purpose-built technical high school that prepares our students for the jobs of today and tomorrow. A technical high school is not simply a niche specialization; it is a bridge between rigorous academics and tangible, high-demand careers. For Adams County, the case is clear: build a technical high school now to secure the county’s economic future and to empower every student to thrive.

As the owner of Battlefield Harley Davidson, we have raised the alarm for many years that Adams County is in desperate need of a pipeline of skilled labor for the county to thrive. Battlefield Harley has partnered with ACTI to employ tech students in an apprenticeship type of program to train motorcycle mechanics. Mitchell Feezer has grown and excelled in his position with us, and we couldn’t be happier with his success. Above all else, we see a path forward in preparing our local youth to perform the jobs of tomorrow.

Adams County is home to a diverse mix of industries, including manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, construction, and tourism. As we emerge from the pandemic-era labor tightness, employers across these sectors report a persistent need for well-trained, job-ready graduates who can contribute from day one.

 A dedicated technical high school can tailor curriculum to local needs—offering programs in areas like advanced manufacturing, information technology, cyber security, health sciences, carpentry, automotive technology, and culinary arts—while maintaining strong core academics.

The time is now to prepare for a vibrant future of Adams County.  The question remains, do we have the courage to pursue it?

ACTI will hold a Community Info Session on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 6 – 8 p.m. in the Gettysburg Area High School Auditorium.

David and Pauline LeVan are co-owners of Battlefield Harley-Davidson in Gettysburg.