2. Presenter
Charlie Jewell
Project Manager
Montgomery County, Virginia
Economic Development Department
jewellcw@montgomerycountyva.gov

3. What to Expect:
– Overview of the Economic Development Depart.
– About Montgomery County, Virginia
• General Facts and Stats
• Great Place to Live
• Great Place to Launch and Grow a Business

4. Economic Development
Department

5. The Montgomery County Economic Development Department is
a local government agency dedicated to improving the quality
of life in Montgomery County by encouraging positive economic
growth that:
– Creates meaningful career opportunities
– Expands the commercial tax base
– Protect our enviable quality of life
Strategies aimed at supporting the startup and growth of
companies in Montgomery County as well as the attraction of
new businesses to the community.
What is the Economic
Development Department?

6. Montgomery County, Virginia

7. Location

8. Montgomery County, Virginia

9. Basic Facts and Stats
Population: 95,656
Over the past decade, the population
has grown 13%, +10,599
Employment: 44,492
Employment is up 9.2 percent since
2010, +3,737 net new jobs
Cost of Living Index: 96
The cost of living in Montgomery County
is 4 percent below the U.S. average
Major Industry
Sectors:
• Education Services
• Manufacturing
• Healthcare
• IT & Software
Development
• Life Sciences and
Biotech

10. Great Place to Live

11. Great Place for Families
#1 Best Place in the U.S. to Raise Kids
Quality Education System
• K‐12 – Montgomery County Public Schools
• Blacksburg High School ranks in the Top 5 percent
of public high schools in the nation (Newsweek)
Low Crime
• #7 Most Secure Small Place to Live in U.S
Family Friendly Events
• International Street Fair Festival, parades, etc.
Bloomberg Business and Homes.com
Farmers Insurance Group

12. Highly Educated
Region Percent
Boston 54.7
Washington DC 50.7
Blacksburg 50.29
Silicon Valley 48
San Francisco 45.7
New York 44.5
Raleigh‐Durham 44.48
Austin 39.88
Atlanta 36.1
Percent of Population
with Bachelors or Higher
No. 14
Smartest City
in the U.S. (2013)
No. 14
Most Educated
Small Town (2009)Source: American Economic
Research Institute (2013)

13. Virginia Tech “Hokie” Football
Lane Stadium named the "Toughest
Place in College Football for Opponents
to Play " (2005).
No. 2 College
Football Town in
America

14. The Great Outdoors
The Poverty Creek Trail System (Jefferson National Forest) - 4th
"Best Mountain Bike Trail" and a "Best Running Trail" (2010).
Cascade Falls - 4th "Best Swimming Hole“ (2010).
Huckleberry Trail - 9th "Best Rail to Trail for Running" (2008).
McAfee Knob (pictured) named "Favorite Sections of the Appalachian
Trail." (2010).
New River Junction (tubing)
New River Trail State Park (biking)
New River (canoeing/kayaking)
Appalachian Trail (hiking)
Outdoor Bucket List (2011)
Blacksburg a “Top Ten Dream Town
for Outdoor Enthusiasts.” (2011))

15. Great Place to Launch
Business and Grow a
Business

16. United States #1 Best
Country to Launch a Business
2012 Global Entrepreneurship and Development
Index Report
• Collaboration between George Mason University,
U.S. and University of Pecs and Imperial College
Business School, London
• Index ranked 79 nations based on their
entrepreneurial characteristics, including:
– quality of the education system; likelihood of corruption;
amount of research and development; and government
incentives related to starting a business
Country Ranking
United States 1
Sweden 2
Australia 3
Iceland 4
Denmark 5
Canada 6
Switzerland 7
Belgium 8
Norway 9
Netherlands 10
Taiwan 10
U.S. Business Climate

17. #3
Best State for Innovation and
Entrepreneurship (2013)
Virginia Business Climate
Best State for Business
#1 in 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006
#2 in 2012, 2011 and 2010

18. Top Tech Launching Pad
Blacksburg named one of six rising technology hubs in the U.S.
Best Place to Live and Launch in the U.S.
Blacksburg ranked the No. 43 Best Place to Live and Launch due to its “mix
of business advantages and lifestyle appeal”
Business Climate

19. Major Research University
Virginia Tech
Tops $454
Research Expenditures
#10 globally
Patent Power ranks
in fiscal year 2012
IEE Spectrum (2010)
Entrepreneur Club
Active Student

20. Major Research Park
230-arce research park home to over 160 research,
technology and support companies
#1 Research Park in North America
Association of University
Research Parks, 2010
“We don’t just offer
commercial real
estate. We devote a
great deal of time and
energy toward
helping companies
here grow and be
successful. If they
succeed, we
succeed.”
- Joe Meredith, President,
Virginia Tech Corporate
Research Center

21. Entrepreneur Support
Roanoke-Blacksburg
Technology Council
Regional technology council with over 200
members. Advocate the growth and success
of technology companies in the region.
• Tech & Toast Series
• Pitch & Polish Clinics
VT KnowledgeWorks:
Business acceleration services to help
companies plan, launch and grow.

22. Entrepreneur Support
NuSpark “Ideation” Space

23. Strong Entrepreneurial Culture

24. New Emerging Startups
Four local startups have raised $4.1
million dollars this year alone
$675,000
VFit 3D Body
Scanning
Technology
$1.4 Million
Mobile Fitness App
$2 Million
Social marketing
platform
$107,000
Lawn care
optimization
platform

25. Questions?