Page 48 - Garrett County 2022/2023 Visitors Guide

Quality of Life: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Outdoor Experiences
Major Employers (2021)
Employer
Beitzel Corp./Pillar Innovation Goodwill Retirement Community Garrett Co. Community Action Total Biz Fulfillment
Railey Mountain Vacations Appalachian Parent Association Phenix Technologies
Savage Services
Oakland Nursing & Rehabilitation
Simon Pearce
Product / Service Employees
Industrial Construction 480 Nursing Care 200 Social Advocacy 185 Order Fulfillment 172 Real Estate Management 156
These employers also benefit from the county’s broadband network and its convenient location, which allows for overnight trucking to one-third of the United States. The county’s proximity
to the Port of Baltimore means manufactured goods can be exported swiftly. Garrett County Airport (garrettcounty.org/airport-2g4) provides small freight and ground support services for commercial and general aviation.
Tourism & Recreation: Tourism has seen steady, record-breaking growth in recent years. The county’s more than 1.4 million annual visitors provide regular opportunities for new tourism- related businesses to open in the area. Annual visitor spending of $315 million generates $361 million in economic impact.
Agribusiness: There are more than 700 farms
in Garrett County, benefiting from the area’s fertile soil as well as the national “farm-to-table” movement. Farmers in the county may apply for annual marketing grants up to $250. The agricultural community (garrettfarms.org) is further enhanced by Garrett County’s thriving tourism industry.
Energy: Since 1925, the dam at Deep Creek Lake, now owned by Brookfield Renewable, has provided the region with renewable hydroelectric energy. Three Exelon wind projects in the county — Fourmile Wind Project, Fair Wind Project and Criterion Wind Project — together can generate 140 MWh of clean energy. County government worked with SolarCity (now Tesla) to install three small solar arrays on county-owned properties. Together, the installations can supply approximately 35 to 40 percent of Garrett County government’s annual power consumption.
Notable Businesses
A few of Garrett County’s more notable businesses include:
ClosetMaid: Established in Ocala, Fla. in 1965, ClosetMaid opened its Grantsville facility
in late 2007 and became operational with
40 employees. Today, the Grantsville facility employs 240 individuals working two shifts and sells its product lines through Amazon, Wayfair, Lowes, Home Depot, Target and other major retailers.
Garrett Container Systems (GCS): GCS is
a major manufacturer of reusable aluminum shipping containers. Its product line includes general-purpose cargo containers, dog kennels for military K-9 units, and welded, air-tight units. The company is also a distributor of high-end tactical equipment used by the U.S. military, law enforcement and other government agencies.
Simon Pearce: One of the last American glassblowing companies in existence, Simon Pearce is renowned for its beautifully designed, handcrafted glass and pottery pieces. Founded by artisan and master glassblower Simon Pearce
Garrett Regional Medical Center
Medical Services
512
ClosetMaid Corporation
Storage Product
240
Arrowhead, Inc.
Cinema/Deli/Rest.
190
First United Corporation
Banking/Financial Services
172
Garrett College*
Higher Education
161
EPT Properties/Wisp Resort**
Four-Season Resort
152
Excludes post offices, state and local governments, national retail and food service; includes higher education Source: Garrett County Department of Business Development
Labor Availability
(by place of residence)
Civilian Labor Force (2020 avg.) County
Employment 14,261 Unemployment rate 6.6%
Labor Market Area*
228,708 8.6%
Services for the Disabled High-Voltage Test Equip.
Freight Trucking 75 Nursing Care 67
Hand-blown Glass Manuf.
52
151 120
Dennett Road Manor Nursing Home
Nursing Care
122
Garrett Container Systems
Aluminum Shipping Cont.
110
Morningstar
IT Admin & Support
68
Wood Products
Hardwood Lumber
63
GCC Technologies
Technology Solutions
45
* Employment rises when nursing semester starts, with more adjunct faculty added. **Employment increases to 600 during winter ski season.
Total civilian labor force
15,274
250,140
Unemployment
1,013
21,432
Residents commuting outside the county to work (2015-2019)
Employment in selected occupations (2015-2019)
Science 2,413
17.4%
46 The Deep Creek Experience
Number
3,371 25.1%
Percent
Management, business, science and arts
4,979
35.9%
Sales and office
2,302
16.6%
Production, transportation and material moving
1,859 13.4%
*Garrett and Allegany counties, MD; Grant, Mineral, Monongalia, Preston and Tucker counties, WV; Bedford, Fayette and Somerset counties, PA
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Maryland Department of Labor Office of Workforce Information and Performance, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics