MOUNT AIRY — A personal finance website gives high marks to Mount Airy for its business climate. NerdWallet.com ranks the Surry County city number three among communities it says are the best places in North Carolina to start a business.
You won’t find Raleigh, Charlotte or the Triad’s three largest cities in the top 10 and only Pineville and Morrisville ranked higher. It comes as no surprise to local leaders who say the city of 10,400 is focused on helping fledgling businesses get off to a good start.
“We have some great resources at the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Mount Airy and our local tourism effort can provide to people who are looking at starting a business,” said Jessica Icenhour Roberts, the city’s tourism and marketing director. “Anything from statistics to traffic counts to open store fronts that we have available.”
NerdWallet.com looked at several attributes including the number of companies per 100 people and the percentage of companies with paid employees. Restaurant owner Bill McArthur says he had no doubt Mount Airy was the place to be when he opened McArthur’s On Main in 2013.
“(I) did a lot of research online and also face-to-face,” said McArthur. “Talked to a lot of business owners in Mount Airy.”
Chamber leaders say business start-ups can get more personalized attention in a small city.
“If they join the chamber we give them an online presence, a presence in print, (and) educational opportunities by providing seminars,” said Renae Shaffer, the chamber’s finance director.
The website also factored in the health of the local economy.
“I think it’s just very important,” said Melissa Wyatt, owner of Wyatt’s Trading Post. “The economy, of course, drives your business.”
City leaders say Mount Airy’s small town charm and low cost of doing business are qualities larger cities just can’t buy.
“And those businesses, that’s why they’re coming here and looking at Mount Airy,” said Roberts.
Founded in 2009, NerdWallet.com has earned its share of praise from CNN Money and The New York Times, which has recommended the website to its readers.
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