Why Montgomery County, Virginia is a rapidly growing tech hub
If you're a startup founder or an entrepreneur, you already know about Silicon Valley and its reputation as the tech hub of the world, but what you may not know is that there are rapidly developing new tech industry hubs popping up all over the US. While it's definitely a benefit to be based in Silicon Valley, it's no longer a necessity for entrepreneurs who are looking to start something new or for startups who are looking to expand. Case in point: Montgomery County, Virginia, the home of Virginia Tech University, and CNN Money's 6th ranked rising tech hub.
In a recent interview from South By Southwest, Murray Newlands of YourStory interviewed Charlie Jewell from the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development to learn more about the county's rapidly growing tech industry and why foreign companies who are looking to move stateside should consider locating there.
To find out more, watch the full interview below:
These are the key takeaways from the interview:
- In the interview Charlie gives many examples of benefits that Montgomery County can offer budding tech companies, and explains that the county is taking personal interest in each and every company located there. He says that the county is doing whatever they can to make sure companies have the resources they need to succeed, helping them on an individual basis to find local office space, incubators, business attorneys, and other necessary services that startups need. Charlie says that the county, although they might not be experts in the tech field, they're willing to work with companies to find them people who are experts and who can help.
- Beyond the individual attention that the county's departments are devoting to startups, it's also a great place to live and work. With a low cost of living and cited as the number one place to raise a family by Bloomberg Business Week, new tech companies can feel comfortable and productive in a growing city like Blacksburg, Virginia. Plus, with Virginia Tech University, Radford University, and many more in the area, there is a lot of emerging tech talent close by that can help your company succeed.
If you have any questions after watching the video, please leave them in the comments below!