As reported by the Cumberland Times-News, Garrett County is reinventing its rural manufacturing base and plans to celebrate its successes.

The county will celebrate its thriving manufacturing industry this month with a couple of events that will showcase the industry’s growth, as well as its historic talents and character as a community.

Kicking off the celebration is the first conference in the Power of Possibilities Series being hosted by The Greater Cumberland Committee and several other regional organizations at Garrett College in McHenry on Oct. 24. Designed with regional infrastructure and ecosystem entities in mind, this conference will offer an update on the region’s economic outlook, as well as advice from industry and government speakers and a toolkit of resources to assist education, government, and nonprofit community organizations for working with entrepreneurs.

Next up are the Maryland Economic Development Association’s 2014 Fall Conference and Showcase on “Advancing Manufacturing in Maryland” Oct. 26 and 27 at Rocky Gap Casino Resort. This two-day event will kick off MEDA’s fourth annual Economic Development Week, which emphasizes the importance of economic development for the state of Maryland to the general public with initiatives and events held throughout the state.

More than 30 specialty manufacturers are located in Garrett County.