By Mark Scott, director, Market MontGOmery Chamber & Tourism • How would you describe Montgomery County if you were trying to attract managers and workers to this area?
In real estate the old saying is: location, location, location. We’re midway between Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and within a 90-minute drive of three international airports. Montgomery County is sandwiched between major interstates 73, 74 and 85, making it easy to travel here by car as well.
We’re within a 90-minute drive of three big metropolitan areas: the Triangle, the Triad and the Charlotte metro area. We’re close to the beaches and the Blue Ridge Parkway and more than 30 colleges and numerous community colleges are within 90 miles.
With all of that proximity, we’re nestled neatly away in a rural county with nearly 80 square miles of a national forest providing miles and miles of hiking, biking, horseback riding and off-road vehicle trails. There’s all sorts of camping, hunting, a shooting range and more.
Then there are the lakes and rivers. Our lakes have mostly unspoiled scenic views of nature for as far as the eye can see. There are 30 or more species of fish in our lakes, including many “whoppers” like the one Kevin Moore recently caught and released that was featured by USA Today Sports and Fox National News.
There’s our relatively low crime rates, low cost of living, job opportunities and the abundance of health care options provided by FirsHealth along with Duke, UNC and Wake Forest hospitals and medical schools being close by.
Maybe it’s the “cultures”: agriculture producing fresh foods; the art culture that comes with STARworks, local world-class glass blowers, potters, etc.; and historic culture with the Town Creek Indian Mound.
Oh heck … how would you describe MoCo to someone to entice them to relocate here?