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Leading Financial CenterPEOPLE LIKE TO LIVE IN CHARLOTTE. Our experiencewith relocating companies demonstrates repeatedly thatthey are successful in recruiting highly talented individualsfrom all regions of the U.S. and abroad. Once they are here,most transferees do not want to leave, and here are just afew of the reasons why:

h With a population of over 1.7 million, metropolitanCharlotte offers all of the advantages and amenities of amajor urban area.

h Charlottes composite cost of living, at 92.6 percent ofthe national average, is lower than all but seven othermetro U.S. cities. A key component of that figure ishousing, which in Charlotte is 79.7 percent of thenational average. Housing costs are low primarily

because Charlottes construction costs are 80 percentof the national average.

h North Carolinas per capita state and local tax collectionranks 20th lowest in the U.S., and Charlottes prudentand equitable taxes reflect that ranking. Compared withthe largest cities of each state, Charlotte has the 10thlowest residential property tax.

h Utility costs in Charlotte are reliable and reasonable,ranking 13th lowest of the top 40 metro markets in thiscountry.

h Charlotte is strategically located in the U.S. and is only

a two-hour plane ride from 60 percent of the U.S.population. The highest mountains in eastern NorthAmerica are a short 2-hour drive away, while some ofthe best Atlantic coast beaches can be reached by carin only 3 to 3.5 hours.

h Charlotte-Douglas International Airport providessuperior air service with nonstop daily service to170 different cities, including international service toFrankfurt, Munich, Paris, London, Montreal, Toronto,Mexico City, Rome, Rio de Janeiro and 19 differentCaribbean destinations.

h For relocating spouses and partners, job opportunitin Charlotte are greater than in most other U.S. cit

Charlotte boasts 957 Dun & Bradstreet Million DoCompanies, 365 Fortune 500 operations, 1,2companies that employ 100 or more, eight Fortu500 headquarters and several other large corporaheadquarters. During 2009, an especially challengiyear, 1,029 different companies in Mecklenburg Coualone announced the creation 15,542 new jobsis no surprise that over the past decade, Charloexperienced the third highest in-migration of youeducated workers in the nation.

h Charlottes economy is also highly diversified. No sin

industry sector, including financial services, hasdominant share of the employment market. All maindustry groupings are represented. While Charlottenot immune from swings in the economy, this divemix provides greater stability than is found in maother urban markets.

h Charlotte also offers a highly developed and sophisticatinternational business environment. There are curren850 foreign-owned companies in the metro area, atheir presence spawns a large number of internatiobusiness and cultural organizations. Expatriates will fi

PEOPLE LIKE TO LIVE INCHARLOTTE. LOW COST OF

LIVING, DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY,GREAT CLIMATE AND STRATEGICPOSITION ARE A FEW AMENITIES.

Why Charlotte?

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h If sports are your pleasure, Charlotte has it all: NFL, NBA,NASCAR, PGA, AAA Baseball and NHL/AHL affiliates,not to mention collegiate sports and recreationaloptions as well.

h Outdoor recreation opportunities abound in Charlotte:canoeing and kayaking at the U.S. National WhitewaterCenter; boating and fishing on Lakes Norman,

Mountain Island and Wylie; golfing on courses that areaccessible from all residential and business areas; skiingin the Appalachian mountains, camping, horsebackriding, hiking and more.

h Nothing could be finer than Charlottes North Carolinaweather. Four distinct seasons with balanced summersand winters prevail. Extreme conditions are rare,allowing year-round use of the citys 17,600 acres ofparks, 33 miles of greenways and 36 public and privategolf courses. More courses are available in outlyingcounties. Only half of winter days fall below the freezing

point, and sub-zero temperatures have been recordedin Charlotte only five times since 1878. Spring and fallseasons are protracted and extremely pleasant, andweather rarely interrupts outdoor activities.

many of their countrymen in Charlotte and a valuablesupport network their presence creates.

h Charlotte is firmly established as one of the countrysmost recognized and respected regional health carecenters. Its cutting edge facilities offer top-notch care,and a very wide network of eldercare facilities supportsrelocating professionals with family members in needof such services.

h Charlotte offers a nationally acclaimed level of highereducation. The 34 colleges and universities within theregion serve over 175,000 students. In-state tuition startsat $4,250 per year in the highly regarded North Carolinastate university system. Residency status requires thatindividuals live in the state at least one year.

h Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), theconsolidated public school system in MecklenburgCounty, continually ranks as one of the best urbansystems in the country. Thirty seven CMS schoolswere recently named schools of excellence. The top10 percent of CMS students routinely outscore theircounterparts (the top 10 percent of students nationally)on the SAT by a significant margin.

h Charlotte neighborhoods and residences have distinctpersonalities and offer diverse housing options. At anygiven time, more than 10,000 homes are available tochoose from.

h Charlottes thriving arts community enhances an alreadyrich and stimulating quality of life. Symphony, dance,

theater, opera, art museums and a wide range of othervenues are supported by the Arts & Science Council,which conducts one of the highest per capita annualcampaigns of its type in the country. A large numberof arts venues are located downtown within walkingdistance of each other and Charlottes light rail line.

Charlotte Chamber Economic Development 330 South Tryon Street; P.O. Box 32785Charlotte, North Carolina 28232 U.S.A. | 704.378.1300 | www.BOOMcharlotte.com | twitter.com/cltecondev 1/11 1M

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