Presenter

Charlie JewellProject Manager

Montgomery County, VirginiaEconomic Development Department

jewellcw@montgomerycountyva.gov

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

Economic Development Department

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?

Montgomery County, Virginia

Location

Montgomery County, Virginia

Basic Facts and Stats

Population: 95,656 Over the past decade, the population has grown 13%, +10,599

Employment: 44,492Employment is up 9.2 percent since 2010, +3,737 net new jobs

Cost of Living Index: 96The 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

Great Place to Live

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

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)

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

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))

Great Place to Launch Business and Grow a 

Business

United States #1 Best Country to Launch a Business2012 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

#3Best 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

Top Tech Launching PadBlacksburg 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

Major Research UniversityVirginia Tech

Tops $454Research Expenditures

#10 globallyPatent Power ranks

in fiscal year 2012

IEE Spectrum (2010)

Entrepreneur ClubActive Student

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

Entrepreneur Support

Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology CouncilRegional 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.

Entrepreneur Support

NuSpark “Ideation” Space

Strong Entrepreneurial Culture

New Emerging Startups

Four local startups have raised $4.1 million dollars this year alone

$675,000VFit 3D Body

Scanning Technology

$1.4 MillionMobile Fitness App

$2 MillionSocial marketing

platform

$107,000Lawn care

optimization platform

Questions?