Montgomery County: Montgomery County, or Montco, has emerged from the bedrock of U.S. history to seal its place as a dynamic and diversifying regional economy strong in retail and industry. Home to both small businesses and leading corporations, proactive initiatives like MontcoForward are updating the county’s approach to economic development, while ensuring its workforce is educated and competitive.
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Fast forward: Montgomery County has the fastest-growing economy in the greater Philadelphia area, and it is preparing for more Montgomery County has been a part of history since before the founding of the United States, known as a place where revolutionary warriors wintered, and abolitionists admonished their countrymen to repudiate slavery. Today, a different kind of progress is underway, as the county strives to enrich the lives of its residents and make Montgomery County the place to live, work, learn, and invest. Whether it is the strengthening of an already strong economy that continues to add more and higher paying jobs, the undertaking of massive infrastructural improvement projects that will improve travel within the county and connect it to other major labor markets in the region, or the growing selection of top healthcare, education, and shopping, Montgomery County has a diversity of place, people, and opportunities all in a location that is truly the keystone of the Northeast corridor of the United States. History Montgomery County has an exciting history that predates not only its designation as a separate county from Philadelphia County, but also the formal existence of the United States of America. Valley Forge, 148 | Invest: Philadelphia 2020 | MONTGOMERY COUNTY
within Montgomery and Chester counties, hosted the fabled winter camp of Gen. George Washington and his troops following the Battle of Edge Hill. In 1784, the residents of what became Montgomery County petitioned the Pennsylvania State Assembly for a new county separate from Philadelphia County, primarily based on their excessive distance from the county seat. The petitioners were granted their new county, and it was named after Gen. Richard Montgomery. Its muchcloser county seat in Norristown, which was named for local landowner Isaac Norris, was laid out in 1784 and incorporated as a borough in 1814. Later in its history, Montgomery County became active in the abolitionist movement thanks to its close association with the slavery-abhorring Quaker sect. It was also home to abolitionists Lucretia Mott and Hiram Corson, and had several stops along the Underground Railroad. The area’s traditional industry was primarily agricultural, with several family farms dotting its landscape during the 19th century. Today, Montgomery County is home to both small businesses and major corporations, as well as some of the country’s best schools, all of which are easily accessible from Philadelphia and the surrounding
MONTGOMERY COUNTY OVERVIEW
region by road and rail. It is also among the region’s favored counties to live in Pennsylvania, ranking No. 1 of 67 counties and No. 1 for families in a 2019 study by niche.com that awarded the county an overall A+ grade. In terms of diversity, the county scored a B+ grade based on ethnic and economic diversity. Montgomery County is also second in foreign-born population behind Philadelphia County. General economy Montgomery County has the fastest-growing economy of all the counties surrounding Philadelphia. It is beating neighboring Bucks County in terms of business growth by 34%. Indeed, Montgomery County’s GDP added $2.6 billion during the four years
to 2018. Between 2013 and 2016, the county added 14,035 jobs, a 3% increase in total workforce. During this same period, Bucks County added 1,698 jobs and $1.9 billion to GDP. In addition to excelling at job creation, Montgomery County also performs well in terms of the salaries earned by its residents: the median household income of a Montgomery County resident is $87,304, well above the national median of $60,336. Moreover, income inequality in the county measures 0.472, according to the Gini Index, which is below the national average. The most commonly held occupations in the area include management (59,037 people), office and administrative support (51,322 people), and sales (45,019 people), while the highest paying occupations include legal industry positions ( )
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Opportunity blueprint The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners discuss the opportunities that are unique to the county for businesses and individuals. They also reveal the efforts taken and planned to achieve sustainability across the county.
Valerie A. Arkoosh MD, MPH
Chair Montgomery County Board of Commissioners
What business opportunities are unique to Montgomery County? Montgomery County is home to a robust and growing tourist industry. In addition to premier destinations such as Valley Forge National Historical Park and King of Prussia Mall, we are working with Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board on bringing other events and locations into the fold. Our collection of lush parks and trails, Elmwood Park Zoo, Cirque du Soleil performances at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, and the USA Climbing Sport & Speed Youth Nationals are all included in the Montgomery County tourism experience and we will continue to add more. Montgomery County has a thriving economy, connected communities, an abundance of educational opportunities, rich cultural assets, open space, and recreational opportunities. We welcome any business or individual who can add to the experience. What are some of the county’s efforts to develop sustainable operations? Sustainability is a critical component in all of our plans. In addition to our current wind turbine and Justice Complex improvement projects, we continue to make progress on the Montco 2040 Comprehensive Plan to increase energy efficiency in our operations throughout the County. Our Planning Commission’s Complete Streets program works with municipalities to make areas walkable, bikeable, ecofriendly, and to provide access to alternative transportation methods, which decrease our carbon footprint and the detriment to our local ecosystem. 150 | Invest: Philadelphia 2020 | MONTGOMERY COUNTY
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Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr.
Vice Chair Montgomery County Board of Commissioners
How is Montgomery County setting an example for businesses and creating an attractive environment for residents? We are working hard on our transportation and infrastructure, repairing our roads and bridges, and making sure these are in good, working condition. We implemented a parental leave policy for our employees. The new policy is not gender-specific and employees can get six weeks off for the birth, adoption or guardianship of a child. We believe that will spur area companies to implement similar initiatives. Montgomery County has the best trail network in the region. We have close to 100 miles of trails, including the Schuylkill River Trail, which is the most popular trail in the region, and we are working on expansion, improvements and new connections for many of our trails. What is the county doing to develop sustainable operations? Sustainability is important for us as a county government and we want to take a leadership role. We announced a wind energy purchase that will power all of the county’s electrical accounts. The commissioners also made a commitment to transition to renewable energy for heating all county-owned buildings and powering all countyowned vehicles by 2050. Another major project is a new justice complex, which is part of six individual construction projects in downtown Norristown to address service, operational and energy inefficiencies and modernize county buildings for the future. We are taking every step to make sure that sustainability is a major part of that project so that we’re not increasing our energy footprint.
Joseph C. Gale
Commissioner Montgomery County Board of Commissioners
Where are the opportunities for growth in Montgomery County, and what particular industries or types of businesses are you targeting? Manufacturing continues to be a strong growth segment and a focus for job opportunities and training. Montgomery County is home to the most manufacturing jobs in the Commonwealth, especially in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, which are prevalent here. The Montgomery County Commerce Department’s annual Manufest event and free manufacturing training boot camps help to prepare a new workforce to match employer needs. We are also seeing a lift in small business growth such as eateries, specialty shops, and custom services, and small to midsize corporate firms in different areas of the county. For example, Pottstown Area Industrialization Development, Inc., has seen a surge in commercial real estate sales and business expansion over the past year creating more jobs in the area. How does the county plan its approach to environmental sustainability? A large part of our sustainability plan includes preserving open space and farms. One example is our Planning Commission’s collaboration with the Commonwealth, Plymouth Township, and the McKeown Family to permanently preserve Maple Acres Farm, the last farm in Plymouth Township. Preserving the farm moves us closer to our goal of preserving 14,600 acres on 246 farms by 2040. These working farms represent a viable segment of our economy, contribute to our local ecosystem, and continue to spawn a sense of community for our residents. www.capitalanalyticsassociates.com
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Mixed-use project Bryn Mawr Village has been key in the revitalization of Lancaster Avenue.
( ) ($94,701), computer and mathematics ($87,125), and management ($86,683). In terms of industry, the county leads the state in manufacturing. “Montgomery County is No. 1 in Pennsylvania for manufacturing. We have more manufacturing jobs than any of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania. There are numerous opportunities in manufacturing, especially in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries,” Montgomery County Commissioner Kenneth Lawrence, Jr. told Invest:. Not content to sit on its laurels, the county has undertaken an initiative to not only maintain but improve its strong economic performance. MontcoForward was created by the Montgomery County Commerce Department to meet the county’s need for an updated approach to economic development that recognizes the key role of collaboration among individuals and organizations. MontcoForward provides a way for individuals, entrepreneurs, investors, businesses, communities, and institutions to get answers about economic and workforce development and related services, whether they are already active in the county’s economy and looking to grow or seeking to break into the area for the first time. As part of MontcoForward, The Valley 152 | Invest: Philadelphia 2020 | MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Forge Tourism & Convention Board partnered with the Montgomery County Commerce Department to promote the county’s 80 hotels offering around 9,200 rooms; 30-plus craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries; 53 golf courses; close to 100 miles of trails; more than 200 arts and culture attractions; and 1,600 restaurants. The collaborative effort included a promotional video that illustrates the county’s advantages. “We worked with the county and the Montgomery County Commerce Department on a video project and marketing strategy. It’s one of the first times that has been done with tourism,” said Michael Bowman, president and CEO of the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board. “We collaboratively worked through MontcoForward’s brand and we produced a video with various college presidents and industry and tourism leaders to showcase the county. The economic drivers for industry continue to grow. There are great schools in Montgomery County and things to do. Montgomery County has a great location in proximity to Philadelphia, New York, Washington D.C., and is well-connected through all the main highways.” The overarching objective is to showcase the county as an ideal destination for people to live, work, learn, invest, and visit — Valley Forge National Historical
MONTGOMERY CONSTRUCTION COUNTY OVERVIEW
David Zellers Director Montgomery County Commerce Department
Park alone attracts 1.8 million visitors annually and had a local economic impact totaling $36 million in 2018. MontcoForward was expanded in May 2019 to provide additional web-based information about business development, including data on the county’s business climate, industry trends, customer demographics, competition, and transportation. Critical improvement projects In addition to MontcoForward, the Montco 2040 Comprehensive Plan, as its name suggests, focuses on all aspects of the development of Montgomery County through the year 2040. Montco 2040 was formally adopted on Jan. 15, 2015 as an overhaul of the 2005 comprehensive plan. Montco 2040 provides a comprehensive framework for the local plans of municipalities throughout the county, and offers guidance on intermunicipal issues, such as highways, public transportation, flooding, trails, growth trends, redevelopment trends, shopping needs, the impact of large developments, housing needs, natural systems, and economic growth. Montco 2040 has been hugely successful, even winning national awards, and this is due in no small part to the inclusion of public input during its development. Individual citizens, ( )
What is the main achievement of the Montgomery County Commerce Department in the last year? One of the cornerstone accomplishments this year has been the launch of our new web platform, MontcoForward.org. We worked very closely with our tourism board (the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board) and with our planning commission (the Montgomery County Planning Commission) to put something together that would, in one place, help a variety of different constituencies learn more about the county, be excited about having or expanding a business here, and relocating here. The website includes a host of demographic and business intelligence information (with geospatial components), resources on who to talk to, information on all our great partners in our growing partner network, and also includes our MontcoForward video, which was really a special and exciting initiative to help promote Montgomery County as the place to live, work, learn and invest. What opportunities does Montgomery County offer to businesses seeking to expand or relocate? First of all, over half the population has a bachelor’s degree or higher. Moreover, Montgomery County has the most manufacturing jobs in Pennsylvania. We have a diversely skilled workforce. We are very fortunate in that businesses are looking at this area. There are close to 100 institutions of higher education within 50 miles of the county, as well. Our county property taxes are the lowest of Philadelphia’s collar counties. We are also at the keystone of the Northeast corridor of the United States, running from Boston all the way to the research triangle in North Carolina. And that proximity to so much talent, so many other businesses and opportunities gives us a really unique location advantage. Our proximity to Philadelphia provides a natural linkage and connection to the excitement of the city. www.capitalanalyticsassociates.com
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Market voices: Great offer
Michael Bowman
President & CEO Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board
I see tourism only growing. One of the opportunities that we continue to build up in Montgomery County is fitness tourism, especially youth sports. That could be basketball, volleyball, soccer, cheerleading or dance. What’s great about this niche and this business model is that families travel for youth sports. It’s usually on weekends and shorter periods. When they come to various destinations, they want to explore and enjoy all the assets they normally don’t get to see. We are in the process of working through final plans to attract a developer and a partner to build or improve and increase the number of fields that we have and our indoor facilities for youth sports.
Montgomery County has made a significant investment in trails and open spaces. Our 96-mile trail system has been expanded for county residents, connecting them to the region’s trail network, the Circuit. We are preserving open spaces, whether parks or land with environmental benefits, especially along the Schuylkill River and other waterways that provide places where people can hike, bike, birdwatch, or kayak. We have a tremendous amount of open space and an extensive park system. We also look at and review planned development in the county through our zoning ordinances. When we adopted Montco 2040: A Shared Vision, we looked at how we could provide sustainable growth in the county to preserve our open spaces while investing in our communities, preserving our historical character, and promoting businesses to grow.
Greg Waks
Chairman - Board of Supervisors for Upper Merion Township
Jody Holton
Executive Director Montgomery County Planning Commission
We have a community of employers that are always looking for qualified people. We also have a number of growing amenities in our township, which also helps to drive employees to live in our community. These amenities include a community center and a pool with increasing membership and a growing number of trails and sidewalks, which helps people live an active lifestyle. Our low taxes are also among the main drivers for residents and businesses. Both the public and private sectors offer numerous amenities for the community because the employees we want to attract are also interested in having a quality lifestyle.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY OVERVIEW
Dennis McGonigle Chief Financial Officer – SEI
The Oaks headquarters project is well under way, and we expect to finish the expansion of our existing North Campus by late spring 2020. Eventually, we want to bring all of our Pennsylvania employees back onto a single campus and give us some additional room for growth, as the new building will significantly expand the office space available at our Oaks headquarters. The construction reinforces our presence in and commitment to Montgomery County, which has been our home for over 20 years and will continue to be. As a global company, we keep expanding our footprint and attracting talent, and that is healthy for Montgomery County’s growth.
of homes available shrunk by 19% to 2,403 in August 2019 from 2,980 in August 2018. For the homes that are being sold this year, they are going faster and netting more: the average number of days that a house is on the market dropped from 41 in August 2018 to 38 in 2019, and the median sale price climbed 6% year over year from $304,950 in August 2018 to $322,495 in August 2019. It also appears to be getting more expensive to rent in Montgomery County, with median rent climbing from $1,057 in 2010 to $1,211 in 2017. Another interesting facet of Montgomery County’s real estate market is its retail space offerings that make it a leading shopping destination in the Northeast corridor. The retail kingpin, of course, is the renowned King of Real estate Prussia mall. The mall has long The county’s growth over the been a draw to shoppers from the past few years has spurred a surrounding region and beyond, commensurate expansion of with 22 million visitors annually. its real estate market. While Michael Bowman It now has plans to expand into a the county hit some major Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board multi-use space with apartments, milestones in 2017 and continued a hotel, office space, and outdoor strong in 2018, some evidence of a cooldown emerged in 2019. For example, the total space. The project will make use of the vacant J.C. number of single-family homes sold throughout the Penny property at the mall, and will boost the mall’s county in 2017 was 12,202, the highest number in a value from $2 billion to more than $3 billion. decade. However, the total number of homes sold in 2018 fell slightly, to 12,036. The latest data from August Transportation 2019 indicates that 1,042 units were sold that month, The King of Prussia region is also at the heart of one compared to 1,232 in July 2019, and 1,203 in August of Montgomery County’s most ambitious transportation 2018. However, it is worth noting that this decrease in plans. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority sales may be linked to a decrease in the inventory of (SEPTA) has plans to extend the Norristown Highhomes for sale compared to last year: the total number Speed Line to King of Prussia, a project that would ( ) businesses, organizations, community leaders, and municipal officials were invited to numerous public meetings and presentations, were asked to complete a survey, which 2,500 residents completed, and had access to videos, webinars, and draft plans designed to inform them about the plan. Finally, there was a public hearing on the final draft. To facilitate the implementation of Montco 2040 and its underlying goals throughout the county, the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners announced the Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program, which has awarded $5.5 million in funding for 56 projects across 38 municipalities through the 2019 cycle.
The economic drivers in Montgomery County continue to grow.
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link University City, Center City, and Upper Merion, the region’s biggest employment hubs, by rail. The project will cost SEPTA an estimated $1.2 billion, although funding remains an unanswered question. The expectation at present is numerous sources of funding, with one source almost certainly being federal grant money. Another potential source is a New Starts grant from the Federal Transit Administration, which the project would likely qualify for because it will add 9,500 more trips on the Norristown High Speed Line than it currently handles. However, the New Starts grant will cover, at best, approximately half of the project’s cost, leaving SEPTA to figure out how to fund the balance. SEPTA will also need to secure $600 million in funding before it would even be entitled to apply for federal grants. For now, SEPTA has approved payment of $7 million (out of a decade-old grant of $20 million) to the engineering firm HNTB to provide detailed plans for the project. SEPTA hopes to have a better idea of where the balance of the funding will come from in 2020, based in part on the plans provided by HNTB. Upper Merion will soon be home to the world’s largest co-working
Manufacturing community. Montgomery County is already one of the largest manufacturing hubs in Pennsylvania, and the sector now expanding into the county to take advantage continues to be one of the fastest-growing in the of the demand, and space, for new healthcare and region. To ensure a steady supply of qualified workers, life sciences facilities there. For example, Jefferson the Montgomery County Workforce Development Health (Thomas Jefferson University) opened its new Board offered free manufacturing boot camps to Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing in Montgomery anyone interested in pursuing a career in the growing County in 2019. The $7 million facility was the product field. The six-week camps, started in mid-September of a partnership between Jefferson Health and Dublin, 2019, were offered to support the Southeastern Ireland-based National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training. The Pennsylvania Manufacturing institute is the first of its kind in Alliance, which is a collaborative North America and will allow bioorganization comprised of pharmaceutical professionals manufacturers throughout the and students to obtain handsregion. The content of the boot on education in the production camps included workshops on of biotherapeutic medicines resume writing, interview skills, through collaboration with local and industry basics. Participants pharmaceutical companies. could also work toward their At opening, eight employees OSHA 10 Safety Certification Kenneth Lawrence occupied the 250,000 square-foot and receive career coaching. Montgomery County facility, with plans for the staff to Upon completing the boot camp, participants will have a chance to connect with local triple to 24 over the next three years. Another exciting healthcare expansion into employers. Montgomery County is the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) announcement that it plans Healthcare Montgomery County’s healthcare sector benefits to open a new specialty care and urgent care center from its proximity to Philadelphia’s world-class in Abington Township. The proposed 37,000-squarehospitals and research centers, many of which are foot facility will include up to 30 exam rooms and
We have more manufacturing jobs than any of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY OVERVIEW
a gym for physical/occupational therapy. The main outpatient services offered at the specialty care facility will include cardiology, orthopedics, ENT, neurology, pulmonology, endocrinology and diabetes, and gastroenterology and nutrition. The urgent care center will offer after-hours care to children with mild to moderate illnesses or injuries. When it opens in 2021, the new facility will join five existing CHOP facilities in Montgomery County, with a new inpatient hospital also expected to open in King of Prussia in 2021. The healthcare segment in the county also is now underpinned by the Discovery Labs co-working space that opened in Upper Merion County this year. It is the largest co-working space in the world and will focus on healthcare, life sciences and technology. In an interview with Invest: Philadelphia, Greg Waks, chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Upper Merion Township, highlighted the importance of the new space and the other opportunities arising in the area. “With the opening of Discovery Labs, which will be one of the world’s largest co-working communities, there will be numerous opportunities for businesses in the healthcare, life sciences and technology sectors. Upper Merion also offers multiple ( )
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Testing fresh waters Education plays a large role in Montgomery County’s growth and attractiveness, and its institutions of higher learning are taking the necessary measures to ensure students get the education that will help them meet the expectations of a demanding and evolving business community. Leading educators discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Brock Blomberg President Ursinus College
How is Ursinus College dealing with the trend of diminishing enrollment? We are actually bucking the trend. We had a magnificent year in 2019, but it wasn’t just about attracting more students. We were able to enhance diversity and strengthen academic quality in our student body, while keeping the same commitment to a growing number of scholarships. Part of it is that we are small in the right way. We are intimate, our students get to know their faculty and student affairs staff, and our entire curriculum is built on four questions, which we call the “Ursinus Quest”: How do I understand the world? How should we live together? What matters to me? And, what should I do? This last one adds an element of action. If students come here with the idea that they own their education and that it is going to be driven by questions like these, it invigorates them. What are the more popular majors in the college and which have seen the most growth? Many students coming to a liberal arts college are undecided about their majors. We offer many opportunities for students to pick and choose and we have found that often, many students pick multiple majors that are complementary. Our most popular majors are in the areas of health and science. We invested in the Innovation and Discovery Center, an academic building that combines science, entrepreneurship and public affairs all under one roof. That helped attract many students who wanted science-related majors; in fact, almost half of our new students came for that. The other popular majors here are business and economics, health and exercise physiology, and media and communications. 158 | Invest: Philadelphia 2020 | MONTGOMERY COUNTY
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ROUNDTABLE
Deanne D’Emilio
President Gwynedd Mercy University
The Gwynedd Mercy University Board has approved a new five-year strategic plan. In what areas is that plan focused? It has four themes. One is distinctive teaching and learning, and of course that focuses on program development. The overarching goal of that theme is for Gwynedd Mercy University to become a Catholic university leader in professional and healthcare education. Another theme is the transformative student experience, which is going to focus on actual programming for students that will distinguish Gwynedd Mercy University from what I would call the “sea of sameness” that exists in this part of Pennsylvania with small, private higher education institutions. The third theme is called Empowered Community, which is more internally focused on how we function, our systems and campus master planning, and the fourth theme is called Compelling Brand, which is focused on how we showcase Gwynedd Mercy University in Pennsylvania and the region. What are some unique challenges for higher education in the area? The fact that there are so many institutions of higher education in the region is without question a challenge. Within 30 miles of this institution, there are 46 others. Many are small, private institutions like us. An additional challenge is the well-documented decline in the number of students graduating from high school in the foreseeable future and the immediate past, so there will be fewer traditional students to attend all of these undergraduate institutions.
Ajay Nair
President Arcadia University
What opportunities does Philadelphia provide for higher education? Our close proximity to the city is a major draw for our students. We think of ourselves as a global institution, with a strong presence in 12 countries around the world. That’s remarkable for a midsized liberal arts institution. We also think about Philadelphia as a global destination. Besides our study abroad programs, we’re investing in internship opportunities in Philadelphia. We’re developing a project for Arcadia students and students around the globe to study and work in Philadelphia. This will be another pioneering chapter in Arcadia’s history. What are the biggest challenges facing liberal arts education today? We hear a lot about the challenges related to the workplace. In other words, how do we prepare students for the workplace through a liberal arts education? Certainly that’s a key motivating factor for us at Arcadia, but we’re digging a bit deeper there. We’re producing work-ready and life-ready students who have deep critical thinking skills and are prepared for the workforce and life’s challenges. Social impact is the essence of liberal arts, and we’re preparing change agents who want to make an innovative difference in their communities. What are your areas of focus for the university? At Arcadia, we have a big focus in health sciences innovation, with nationally-ranked programs in our physical therapy and physician’s assistant program. Both of these degrees will see investments in a hybrid online version of the programs. www.capitalanalyticsassociates.com
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Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program has awarded $5.5 million in funding for 56 projects through 2019.
( ) opportunities for companies in the medical sector, especially with the presence of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Specialty Care and Surgery Center and a new hospital on the way, as well as a Main Line Health Center in King of Prussia, which will be home to a new Women’s Specialty Center. For people who are interested in establishing any type of business in the medical or healthcare space, we have a wide variety of opportunities in our township.” Education In addition to the county’s proximity to the institutions of higher education in Philadelphia, including the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and Temple University, Montgomery County is home to a host of excellent schools within its own jurisdiction: Montgomery County Community College, Arcadia University, Gwynedd Mercy University, Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College, Ursinus College, and more. To highlight the achievements of just one of the county’s premier schools, Montgomery County Community College was named one of the best community colleges in Pennsylvania, based on transfer rate, graduates who go on to complete degrees and certificate programs, student retention rate, and cost of attendance. According to the Schools.com 160 | Invest: Philadelphia 2020 | MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Valley Forge National Historical Park attracts 1.8 million visitors a year. ranking, Montgomery County Community College placed third, behind only Bucks County Community College and Butler Community College. Looking ahead Montgomery County continues to grow and add to its legacy. From its historical roots to its modern identity as a retail mecca, hub of industry, and flourishing economy, the county has always managed to dynamically meet the needs of its residents. Through a series of proactive initiatives designed to keep the county’s economy and population growing, its workforce educated and competitive, and its infrastructure up to the increasing demand, Montgomery County is ensuring that it will continue to be a competitive presence in the region.
Capital Analytics would like to thank Montgomery County and The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board for its contributions in compiling this chapter. To learn more, visit their websites: https://www.montcopa.org/ and https://www.valleyforge.org/