but it spurred growth for Tanglewood Conservatories.

In 1998, Alan Stein, 52; his wife, Nancy Virts, 47; and their 6-year-old company had outgrown their 4,000-square-foot facility. Because Tanglewood's custom conservatories are created for clients worldwide, company location wasn't and issue. So when the Economic Development Commission in Caroline County wooed them with tax breaks, financial assistance to build a new facility, and a readily available work force, Stein and Virts jumped at the chance.

Tanglewood thrived, and its facility blossomed from 10,000 square feet to 40,000 square feet within four years. "Because of the large space we now have, we can build larger and more intricate conservatories," Stein says.