The Hickory Metro region offers many advantages for companies seeking to expand or relocate. Situated along I-40 in the beautiful foothills of North Carolina, the Hickory Metro area has a well-trained workforce, a vibrant arts and cultural community, business-friendly local governments, and some of the most beautiful outdoor amenities in the nation.

Add to that its convenient location, and you have a formula for success.

The Hickory Metro area has a population of 343,000 people, and more than 14 million within a three-hour drive time.

It's the gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains and places such as the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most visited National Parks in the country. Golfing, hiking, water skiing, snow skiing, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and many other recreational opportunities are within an hour's drive. Some of the best trout fishing in the southeast. And the beach is just a half-day trip.

We are located near the geographic center of the east coast, so motor freight carriers can reach almost anywhere east of the Mississippi overnight. We're just an hour from the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, and the Hickory Regional Airport will have daily flights from Delta Airlines beginning in May of 2005. Rail service cuts right through the center of the region.

And speaking of location, the Hickory Metro area is within easy commuting distance of four other MSA's: Charlotte, Winston-Salem/Greensboro; Asheville; and Greenville/Spartanburg.

In recent years, the Hickory Metro has been cited as one of the best places to open a restaurant (source) and one of the best places to raise a family (source). The Hickory Metro area is famous for its furniture, but is also home to a significant fiber optic cable manufacturing cluster and a burgeoning automotive supply cluster.

Convenient. Business-friendly. Great place to live. What more could you ask for?