With more than 300 members, the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce connects businesses, organizations, and partners to support Allegany County's business community. Operating since 1906, the Chamber has long served as a resource for public- and private-sector entities, helping members build meaningful relationships and contribute to strategic community progress. Although the Chamber has always focused on partnerships, advocacy, and promoting the region's commerce sector, it has recently adapted its approach to serve small businesses better while strengthening relationships across the region.

Travelers searching for their next autumn getaway are finding Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland, near the top of the list this year. Mountain Maryland was recently named the No. 2 Best Place to Visit for Fall in the United States in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The recognition marks the county’s fourth consecutive nomination in the national competition and moves Allegany County up from its No. 3 finish in 2024.Ashli Workman, Director of Tourism for Allegany County Tourism, says the ranking showcases something larger about the community and the growing confidence surrounding it.“I think for so long, we’ve gotten stuck in the mentality of what we’ve lost or what we don’t have,” Workman said. “There has been a shift in our community, a real renaissance and a new generation of people with an opportunity-focused mindset.”This new mentality is becoming increasingly visible to both Allegany County residents and visitors. Before the public votes in the USA TODAY 10Best competition, destinations must make the first cut. A panel of travel experts and USA TODAY 10Best editors selects the initial nominees, and readers then vote. For 2026, Allegany County was one of 20 destinations chosen to compete and ultimately finished second behind Mackinac Island, Michigan. For Workman, earning a place among those initial nominees carries its own significance, proving that national travel experts are becoming increasingly familiar with Mountain Maryland and see it as competitive alongside destinations across the country. The public vote is yet another measure of how strongly visitors, businesses, and residents are willing to rally around the place.

Thomas and Rebecca Ferleman see opportunity in unexpected places, pairing creative vision with a willingness to invest in ideas that strengthen the surrounding community. Since moving to Allegany County in 2020 and purchasing the building at 9 North Centre Street in Cumberland, they opened Ferleman Gallery, added Gallery Stage (a music venue) and, most recently, transformed the building’s underutilized second floor into RootsTable, a fine-dining restaurant focused on the food and traditions of the Potomac Highlands.

A decade after its launch, the Tech at the Gap conference is marking a major milestone by turning its attention to what comes next. Presented by the Western Maryland IT Center of Excellence (ITCE), the 10th annual conference, “The Age of Disruption,” will take place Thursday, October 15, at Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone, Maryland. Technology leaders, industry experts, entrepreneurs, students, and community stakeholders will gather in Allegany County to examine the rapid changes unfolding across artificial intelligence, quantum technology, cybersecurity, and more, and consider what they could mean for Western Maryland’s future.

For a business owner, the distance between a promising opportunity and a viable project often comes down to one thing: access to financing. That’s why the Allegany County Department of Economic and Community Development (ACECD) works to connect local businesses with partners like Tri County Council for Western Maryland (TCCWMD). For qualifying businesses across the region, TCCWMD offers financing opportunities that can help create new paths forward.

Tracks and Yaks continues to strengthen its role as one of Allegany County’s standout outdoor recreation attractions, growing both its visitor capacity and tourism offerings in Frostburg. What began with eight rail bikes now accommodates up to 100 riders per trip, reflecting increasing demand for outdoor recreation experiences in the region. In 2025 alone, Tracks and Yaks welcomed more than 25,000 visitors to Frostburg.

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: 

The ability to effectively tell your story is no longer optional. Strategic marketing is fundamental to business development, workforce recruitment, tourism, and long-term economic stability. Yet for many organizations in Western Maryland, the tools, training, and infrastructure needed to compete have remained out of reach, until now.Recognizing this gap, Frostburg State University launched the 3 State Community Media Center with funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The investment was designed with a clear purpose: strengthen economic growth in Western Maryland by expanding access to the skills and infrastructure organizations need to compete.