Allegany County is preparing for its most ambitious housing development in over six decades. National homebuilder D.R. Horton has been selected to construct 65 new homes on the former Allegany High School site in Cumberland. The development will address the county's housing shortage and complement economic development efforts that are ongoing in Allegany County.The project plans include a mix of townhomes, villas, and detached single-family homes that will be equipped with smart technology and sought-after amenities. Some of the planned features of the development include ADA-accessible sidewalks, off-street parking, and proximity to recreational areas to support residents of every age. Pricing for the townhomes is currently expected to start in the high-$100s, offering one of the most affordable new construction options in the state.

Aquatic Circle, an emerging leader in sustainable aquaculture water filtration technology, has secured a major boost in funding from the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program—an award that will help fast-track its entry into the industrial aquaculture sector. The funding supports a new collaboration with researchers at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Laboratory (UMCES) to develop and evaluate a self-cleaning water filtration system designed for brackish and saltwater shrimp farming.This MIPS award is the latest in a series of strategic investments backing Aquatic Circle’s work, including support from TEDCO, the University of Maryland, and Allegany County’s CleanTech Research & Development Grant. These resources have enabled the startup to expand research, build and test prototypes, and move its innovative technology closer to commercialization.“It always feels good when other people actually believe in what I believe in,” Minh Dung Hoang, founder of Aquatic Circle, said. “It’s hard to convince people that there’s new technology out there that actually might change the industry since the industry has existed for thousands of years.”

A new business incubator designed to support early-stage companies opened in Frostburg this month. The Acceleration Trail, developed by Allegany County Economic and Community Development (ACECD), will provide startups with targeted resources to grow their businesses and contribute to the region’s innovation economy. Members of the public and entrepreneurs interested in learning more about The Acceleration Trail are invited to attend the Entrepreneurial Open House: Connect, Explore & Grow on Thursday, April 24 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Located on Main Street in the heart of Frostburg, The Acceleration Trail offers flexible office space, onsite business support services, and proximity to retail, dining, and recreational amenities. Entrepreneurs accepted into the incubator will have access to mentorship, training, and professional development resources provided in partnership with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Western Region.“We want to give young companies the best chances for success,” stated Adam Strott, ACECD’s Economic Development Specialist. “Offering dedicated incubation support and a growth plan for two to three years lays the foundation for companies to prosper.”Already home to top firms that are pioneering new technologies within the circular economy, Allegany County has become a hub for innovation, making the incubator a natural fit. In Frostburg, Clym Environmental Services, a leader in medical waste management, is completing construction on its state-of-the-art facility. In Cumberland, Geocycle offers an environmentally sound waste removal solution to local and regional manufacturing businesses. Partnerships with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) Appalachian Laboratory, the Allegany College of Maryland Makerspace, and Frostburg State University offer additional collaboration opportunities for resident companies. While creating a business incubator was a longtime aspiration for Allegany County, funding the project became a reality three years ago. Funding for the incubator was made possible by the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund, which was announced by former Governor Larry Hogan in 2022. Of the $50 million designated for the state’s five rural regional councils, Tri-County Council for Western Maryland received $10 million and allocated $100,000 to ACECD to establish the incubator in Allegany County.

Thanks to the entrepreneurial vision of small business owners like Abby Lindner, The Rosenbaum is revitalizing Downtown Cumberland in a powerful way. This Women’s History Month, Allegany County Economic and Community Development (ACECD) is spotlighting Madison Paige Boutique—a women-owned business contributing to that momentum. As the owner of Frostburg-based Madison Paige Boutique, Lindner was not initially seeking a new commercial space, but after stepping into The Rosenbaum building, she saw an opportunity to grow her business and reach new customers.“Once I set foot in the building,” Lindner recalls, “I knew this was where I was meant to be.”

Students from West Virginia University (WVU) are bringing fresh ideas to community revitalization efforts in Allegany County. Through a partnership with the WVU Landscape Architecture Program, the City of Cumberland, and Allegany County Economic and Community Development (ACECD), the Wills Creek corridor in Cumberland, Maryland, has been the focus of a student-led design project to consider its potential as a central connector for the city and a catalyst for economic prosperity.Wills Creek, a 38.6-mile-long tributary of the North Branch Potomac River, has long been both an asset and a challenge for the city of Cumberland. Concrete walls added in the 1950s to mitigate flooding have effectively protected the area but also created a physical barrier between the east and west sides.Supported by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the project focuses on improving Wills Creek’s role in the community, examining how environmental and social design could create new opportunities for businesses, residents, and visitors.The initiative, led by Dr. Stefania Staniscia, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture in WVU’s School of Design and Community Development, gave senior students in the landscape architecture program an opportunity to apply their expertise to real-world challenges while encouraging fresh perspectives on how the creek might be used in the future. This valuable offering from WVU allows landscape architecture students to apply their skills to real-world community design challenges.One of those students, Erik Moses, saw the project as an exciting opportunity to put his skills to use. “At first glance, Wills Creek is almost like a scar through the city, but if you look at it in a new way, it could be the new central vein that flows life into Cumberland,” he notes about the corridor. His team proposed a multipurpose, mixed-use green corridor emphasizing accessibility, livability, and tourism. Their design also considered ways to connect existing and proposed urban green spaces along the creek. Moses and his team emphasized strengthening the connection between both sides of the creek and downtown Cumberland to the east, as well as between the creek and the GAP Trail to the west. 

In observance of National Mentoring Month, Allegany County is proud to highlight two pivotal programs enhancing workforce capabilities and bolstering local economic growth: the Western Maryland Consortium’s Workforce Development Board and Apprenticeship Maryland. These initiatives are instrumental in equipping the youth of Allegany County with essential skills and experiences, fostering a robust future for both individuals and businesses within the region.  

Allegany County is on the rise. With growth and innovation at the forefront, Allegany County Economic and Community Development (ACECD) is blending economic development, tourism, and quality-of-life improvements into a bold vision for the future. “Maryland is a highly innovative state,” said Jeffery Barclay, ACECD Director. “To keep Allegany County competitive, we’ve made significant investments in recent years to capitalize on our unique strengths…residents are starting to see these efforts pay off, generating an enthusiasm we haven’t seen in some time. We plan to continue that momentum by prioritizing forward-thinking projects in the new year.” This future-forward approach underscores the importance of ACECD’s upcoming strategic plan, which will establish broad economic development goals for years to come.

Shopping small is a wonderful way to support Allegany County’s vibrant community and explore the unique businesses that call it home this holiday season.Among the many local gems, two exciting new businesses have recently opened their doors: the Mountain Maryland Trading Post in Cumberland and Frostburg Fitness. These establishments not only offer unique products and services but also embody the entrepreneurial spirit that makes Allegany County special.

Local pride meets holiday cheer in Allegany County's Shop Small, Win Big campaign! Now in its fifth year, this popular initiative has become a county-wide holiday tradition, inspiring residents to shop locally and rewarding them with exciting prizes—all while increasing foot traffic and visibility for Allegany County’s local businesses.Created by Allegany County Tourism in 2020, the Shop Small, Win Big campaign was initially intended as a creative pivot in response to COVID-19 limitations.Ashli Workman, Director of Allegany County Tourism, explains, “We couldn’t advertise to our traditional markets in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and elsewhere because of the travel restrictions,” Workman said. “We turned inward and focused on encouraging our community to support local businesses, which had also struggled during the pandemic. What started as a temporary initiative grew into an annual highlight for residents and businesses alike.”

For decades, Baltimore Street was a vibrant hub of commerce, attracting shoppers, residents, and day-trippers to Downtown Cumberland. On November 14, 2024, this historic street will celebrate its grand reopening following an extensive two-year renovation. The project features broader sidewalks, added green spaces, and a reintroduction of vehicle and bicycle traffic. This redesign signifies a major milestone in Cumberland's continuing revitalization efforts aimed at boosting business investment and fostering new growth in the area.“The goal of the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project was to create a more reliable and safe downtown,” shared Melinda Kelleher, Executive Director of Cumberland’s Downtown Development Commission. “Downtown Cumberland has gone through many evolutions, and we see this as the next great chapter in its history by enhancing the area with features to attract potential businesses and investors.”Once a bustling, two-lane road lined with businesses, Baltimore Street was a key hub for commerce in Western Maryland through the 1960s, serving residents and travelers from Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and points farther south.