About Us
The Garrett County Committee on Economic Development, a voluntary organization of local business owners and local government leaders, formed the Garrett County Development Corporation, a 501(c)(6) non-profit entity, at the committee’s August 11, 1961 meeting. The Corporation was tasked with conducting all economic development activities for Garrett County.
The Development Corporation was reorganized through Garrett County’s Community Action Committee in 1970, and retired Army Colonel J. Haig Jackson was hired as the Corporation’s Executor Director. Funding for Colonel Jackson’s salary and benefits was obtained via grants awarded to Community Action by the Office of Economic Opportunity.
When the Office of Economic Opportunity stopped funding economic development activities in 1973, the Development Corporation became a budget line entry in the County’s annual budget, and the County Commissioners hired Thomas D. Jones as a classified County employee. Colonel Jackson continued as Executive Director until his retirement in July 1975.
In 1983, at the initiation of Commissioner Elwood L. Grove, II, the Development Corporation was abolished as a budget line entry in the County’s budget, and the Garrett County Department of Economic Development was created to conduct all economic development activities for the County.
Since 1983, the Garrett County Development Corporation has been a stand-alone, private, non-profit corporation, comprised of unpaid volunteers from a wide array of backgrounds and affiliations. Its mission is to assist in the development and enhancement of the business prosperity and economic well-being of Garrett County.
The Development Corporation was reorganized through Garrett County’s Community Action Committee in 1970, and retired Army Colonel J. Haig Jackson was hired as the Corporation’s Executor Director. Funding for Colonel Jackson’s salary and benefits was obtained via grants awarded to Community Action by the Office of Economic Opportunity.
When the Office of Economic Opportunity stopped funding economic development activities in 1973, the Development Corporation became a budget line entry in the County’s annual budget, and the County Commissioners hired Thomas D. Jones as a classified County employee. Colonel Jackson continued as Executive Director until his retirement in July 1975.
In 1983, at the initiation of Commissioner Elwood L. Grove, II, the Development Corporation was abolished as a budget line entry in the County’s budget, and the Garrett County Department of Economic Development was created to conduct all economic development activities for the County.
Since 1983, the Garrett County Development Corporation has been a stand-alone, private, non-profit corporation, comprised of unpaid volunteers from a wide array of backgrounds and affiliations. Its mission is to assist in the development and enhancement of the business prosperity and economic well-being of Garrett County.