Garrett County, Maryland's westernmost county, has over 76,000 acres of parks, lakes, and publicly accessible forestland. Considered Maryland's "Mountaintop Playground," the county boasts the state's highest elevation (3,360 feet) as well as its largest inland body of water (Deep Creek Lake). Garrett County is home to the state's only sub-arctic wetlands and is the only county in the state to produce natural gas or peat.

Garrett County's 950 businesses employ 10,000 workers. Ranging in size from the very small to those employing over 100 workers, Garrett County businesses continue to expand and prosper. Major private employers include Beitzel, First United Corporation, Garrett Industrial Supply/Pioneer Conveyor, Fechheimer, WISP Resort, Phenix Technologies, Garrett Container Systems, Clayburn, and Wal-Mart.

Central, Northern, and Southern Garrett Industrial Parks, as well as the Keyser's Ridge Business Park located off Interstate-68, are State Enterprise Zones. The McHenry Business Park, to be located on county property adjacent to the Garrett County Airport, is on track for infrastructure to be completed by fall/winter of 2008.

Garrett County participates in the One Maryland Program, which offers significant tax credits for capital investments that create jobs, and has been designated a HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) Zone by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

For additional information, download the 4-page Brief Economic Facts for the county.
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