CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — Pennsylvania emphasized its commitment to growing outdoor businesses with a recent announcement by Gov. Josh Shapiro, REI President and CEO Mary Beth Laughton, Aliner President & CEO Brett Randall, and representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
The announcement on Sept. 10 at the REI store in Cumberland County, Pa. highlighted new efforts to expand and support the state’s growing outdoor businesses.
While speaking at REI, Shapiro laid out steps to help bolster outdoor recreation businesses, connect with workers, and compete in Pennsylvania’s economy. As part of a focus on outdoor business, the governor’s office launched the Office of Outdoor Recreation in 2023, followed by the Outdoor Business Alliance in 2024.
“When we invest in outdoor recreation, we create good-paying jobs, support thriving main streets, and build stronger rural and urban economies,” Shapiro said.
The governor and DCNR Director of Outdoor Recreation Nathan Reigner said during the press conference that the Outdoor Business Alliance would focus on supporting the growth of small businesses, increasing access to capital with new outdoor recreation initiatives, helping develop the workforce, and encouraging industry collaboration.
Reflecting on Aliner’s role, Randall said, “We’re proud to build opportunity here in Pennsylvania – not just campers, but jobs and partnerships. This kind of support shows that Pennsylvania is serious about growing the outdoor economy.”
Headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, Pa., Aliner employs about 95 local workers and sources products from 25 local suppliers. It’s the 14th-largest RV manufacturer in the U.S., and generates about $4 million in in-state sales each year.
September has been a busy month for the company, with Hershey America’s Largest RV Show earlier in the month, and the upcoming Elkhart RV Show. Chuck Phillips, Aliner’s territory manager for the Midwest, Northeast and Canada, says the Hershey show was successful.
He’s now looking forward to the Elkhart RV Dealer Open House, set for Sept. 22-25 in Elkhart, Ind. He’s especially excited to unveil the Aliner Switchback Truck Camper, which weighs just 375 pounds and takes 30 seconds to set up. “The response on the truck camper has been unbelievable so far,” said Phillips.
He discussed some new trends, including one toward overlanding and off-roading, which Aliner’s Evolution series is built to handle. People are also showing interest in lighter vehicles and vehicles that can even be towed by increasingly popular electric vehicles. These trends position Aliner’s lightweight lineup to meet the increasing interest in off-road and EV-friendly trailers.
