In Good Company

Winston-Salem proves you really can have a pro-business culture in a pro-family community.

People in Winston-Salem, North Carolina truly believe they have the best of all possible worlds. Who could blame them? Their community is consistently recognized as one of America’s most livable and friendly cities. And, at the same time, Winston-Salem continues to experience a metamorphosis from one of the nation’s leading manufacturing centers into a widely diverse economic center.

A great place to do business

Winston-Salem is an extremely accessible city, located strategically along the East Coast, equidistant from Atlanta and Washington, DC. The city is within two days’ drive of more than 60 percent of the nation’s industrial and consumer base. At the heart of the region known as the Piedmont Triad, companies here are the recipients of one of America’s most extensive state-maintained highway systems. This area is recognized as being so easily accessible that FedEx decided to open a new hub at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by 2009. Businesses who provide time-sensitive products see this as a great addition to any already outstanding situation.

The Piedmont Triad has grown into one of the most dynamic markets in the United States, with its mix of manufacturing, service sector, education and health care. The cost of land in the Winston-Salem area is generally lower than comparable sites in many other cities, and construction costs are significantly below national averages.

North Carolina is a right to work state with very good management-labor relations. The Piedmont Triad has a unionization rate of less than three percent, and lower employment costs than many other regions of the country.

In addition, there is an outstanding level of employee training available. Employers can work with the state’s industrial training and program and area community colleges to develop customized training programs at little or no cost.

 A great place to live

Training and education are a significant part of what makes Winston-Salem so attractive to business. Whether companies take advantage of the state-funded training programs or the city’s six colleges and universities, there is plenty of learning to be done.

But people don’t just live here because of the business climate or the learning opportunities. Winston-Salem is truly a cutting-edge city with the heart of a small town. There is always plenty to do – from major college sporting events to outdoor recreation to the arts. And Winston-Salem boasts the 1.8 million square foot Hanes Mall, in addition to an ever-expanding number of local arts and crafts shops.

Residents of Winston-Salem enjoy four seasons of mild weather. That makes all sorts of outdoor recreation scenarios possible throughout the year. Plus, beautiful beaches and the Blue Ridge Mountains are both just a short drive away.

Clearly, Winston-Salem has proven that pro-business and high quality of life can be found in the same community. Maybe that’s why so many great companies, like BB&T, FedEx, Pepsi and Dell have chosen to call Winston-Salem home. 

For more information, contact Bob Leak, Jr., president of Winston-Salem Business Inc. at 336.761.1069 or rleak@wsbi.net.  Or visit www.wsbi.net.