Move Outside the Predictable

Allegany County Economic and Community Development (ACECD) is continuing to invest in the future of Barton Business Park, preparing additional industrial acreage for new development and long-term job growth.

Located in Cumberland near key transit routes and major regional employers, Barton Business Park is one of Allegany County’s most strategically positioned industrial sites. The park is approximately six miles south of Interstate 68, with access to U.S. Route 220 and close to the West Virginia border. The site is also situated near established industrial anchors, including Northrop Grumman and IBM.

The park is currently home to American Woodmark, one of Allegany County’s largest employers and one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of kitchen and bath cabinetry. More recently, Geocycle began operating in the County-owned spec building at the site, converting unusable industrial waste products into viable fuels using co-processing technologies.

Allegany County is now advancing the next phase of development, focused on approximately 45 acres within the park. The County is preparing multiple parcels for future industrial use, with completion anticipated later in 2026. By completing key site work in advance, Allegany County is reducing development timelines and minimizing uncertainty for prospective companies.

When business owners invest locally, they create jobs, strengthen downtowns, and help sustain the services and amenities that support residents and visitors alike. Chelsea Boyle, OTR/L, RAC-CT, has spent more than two decades making that kind of impact in Allegany County and beyond. Her career spans healthcare management, consulting, and small business ownership, with ventures that range from multi-state healthcare operations to locally owned businesses in downtown Cumberland. In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Allegany County Economic and Community Development (ACECD) is highlighting Boyle’s work as a business leader whose investments continue to support the region’s economy and community life.

For more than three decades, Sand Springs Saloon & Steakhouse has been a gathering place in Frostburg—a restaurant where meals come with familiar faces, family stories, and a deep connection to community. In honor of Women’s History Month, Allegany County Economic and Community Development (ACECD) is spotlighting the women behind that legacy: owner Jo Eisel and her daughter, Jacy Eisel, who are working together to guide the business into its next chapter.

Established in 1994, Sand Springs was purchased from what had been Ruffos Tavern and gradually evolved from a small bar into the full-service steakhouse and community destination it is today. The restaurant remains family-owned and operated, with hospitality, consistency, and customer relationships at the center of its identity.

For Jo, the early years of Sand Springs were defined by determination and adaptability. What began as a modest business opportunity quickly grew into something much larger, shaped by customer demand and the support of the Frostburg community. Over time, simple additions to the menu helped transform the bar into a restaurant, and then into the longstanding local favorite many residents know today.

“I have customers that were coming in 32 years ago that still come in today,” Jo said. “A lot of people know me, I know a lot of people, and I had a lot of support from our customers. I still do.”

That steady local support has helped Sand Springs build something increasingly rare in today’s restaurant industry: longevity rooted in relationships. From the beginning, Eisel’s relatives supported the business’s operations: