Page 39 - Garrett County 2021-2022 Visitors Guide

Quality of Life
Your Forever Home Is Here
I n these uncertain times, we all crave predictability, simplicity and peace. Garrett County is the perfect place to experience all that and more. So
if you’re looking for a new place to settle your family or your business, give us a closer look.
We offer natural beauty and tranquility, but also so much more, including attractive business incentives, beautiful housing, highly regarded schools and top-quality health care.
We’ve compiled this “Quality of Life” section to give you an overview of what to expect. It’ll tell you everything you need to know about Garrett County as a place to live and work. To get you started, consider this short summary of some of our major assets:
• An average commuting time of just 23 minutes.
• A cost-of-living index below the national average.
• A local personal income-tax rate that’s among the lowest in the state.
• Public schools with high test scores, small class sizes, and robust STEM and technical education programs.
• Two well-regarded medical centers.
• Free two-year post-secondary education through the county’s
scholarship to Garrett College.
Garrett County is also a major tourism destination, with 20 percent of the county’s more than 420,000 acres set aside as state park, forest and wildlife- management land, so you’ll never lack for new hiking and biking trails to explore.
At the same time, Garrett County’s convenient location ensures you’re only a few hours’ drive from Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh.
Our wild, abundant natural beauty and friendly communities make Garrett County the perfect place to be socially distant without feeling isolated. Grow your business and raise your family here — you won’t be disappointed.
For more information, go to visitdeepcreek.com.
Statistics sourced from commerce.maryland.gov/about/rankings-and- statistics/data-explorer.
PHOTO BY SARAH DUCK
www.visitdeepcreek.com 37
My Deep
Creek Experience
“I was driving through Garrett County by chance 13 years ago, and the lake and mountains really struck me. I felt drawn to the area. Then, when I realized I could fill a niche for the community by building a laidback-style brewpub, a place for friends and family to gather, it clicked for me. It was the best decision I've ever made.
This community is filled with kind people who want small businesses to succeed. Everyone in the business community helps one another, and the locals and tourists are equally supportive. This was more apparent than ever in 2020, when restaurants faced many regulations and challenges, but our local government and loyal customers helped pull us through. Our community rallied around all local businesses, which makes me so proud to call Garrett County home.”
ERIN CROAKE
OWNER
MOUNTAIN STATE BREWING