The Washingtonian Center is one of Gaithersburg’s most popular destinations.
“We all know this is a great place to live, work, learn and play,” said Mayor Sidney Katz. “But it’s encouraging when our efforts are recognized and validated by those outside of the community.”
The magazine’s website noted: “Gaithersburg’s ability to attract start-up companies has allowed it to rebound from the recession better than many other places.”
Both the mayor and City Council member Ryan Spiegel were interviewed by the magazine several weeks ago during research for the article. Spiegel said he was not surprised by the news because he believes Gaithersburg offers “cutting edge approaches on everything from green building to affordable housing to smart growth development, as well as award-winning schools, parks and programs and a great location close to Washington and Baltimore.”
This is not the first time the city has made the list. Gaithersburg was included on the magazine’s “best places to live” list in 2008 and 2005. This year, the magazine identifies Eden Prairie, Minn., as the country’s “best” place to live, saying it is “family-friendly” and has a “dynamite economy.”
The economy also was a factor in Gaithersburg’s ranking.
“It’s nice to see the magazine focusing this time on the economic advantages for businesses and families to locate in Gaithersburg,” said Spiegel. “Our proximity to many government and private sector job centers, our fostering of high quality jobs in health care and biotech fields via our accelerator and other incentives … are some of the reasons why Gaithersburg is poised to benefit quickly and continuously as the economy recovers.”
Although Gaithersburg is ranked higher on the list than neighboring Rockville, which is listed at number 31, Katz said he considers this a regional award and many groups, including Montgomery County, are all deserving of the recognition.
Spiegel agrees. “The more that the entire region is recognized as a great place, the more it boosts all the cities and counties within the region,” said Spiegel.
“I was so excited to hear about Gaithersburg’s ranking,” said city resident Amy Howell of Lakelands. “Of course, to me it is closer to number one!”
Howell said she and her husband often pat themselves on the back for choosing Gaithersburg in which to raise their son, Perry.
“We’ve been quite happy with the schools, and we love the tightness of the community,” said Howell. “To raise an only child in such a warm and active community has been a blessing.”
“I love living in Kentlands, and I appreciate living in the city of Gaithersburg,” said city resident Robyn Renas. “I moved to Gaithersburg in 1994, not imagining that I would stay. The proximity to the Potomac River ecosystem, the agricultural reserve and to Washington, D.C., makes our little corner of 20878 a great place to stay.”
Katz said there is still more work to do to keep Gaithersburg great, and Renas agrees.
“My hope is for a renaissance of sorts to take hold of the other zip codes of Gaithersburg, especially the Olde Towne portion, so that we climb the rungs to one of the top five slots in the future,” Renas said.
The August issue of the magazine is now available on newsstands.
For more information online, http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/top100/.