Two Lake Norman Towns Named Among Safest Cities in NC

Two Lake Norman Towns Named Among Safest Cities in NC

Cornelius and Huntersville Amongst the Safest Cities NC

Cornelius and Huntersville come up tops in the top 50 Safest Cities in North Carolina according to the most recent Safewise report. Huntersville, coming in on top at #12 is cited for being a fit and friendly city that also made Movoto's Top 10 list of Best Cities in NC. Cornelius, ranked #14 was noted as a diverse community with 10 parks and endless boating, golf and recreational opportunities. Another local Lake Norman town to make the list is Mooresville situated on the east side of Lake Norman just 30 minutes from Charlotte.

According to the Safewise report, they paired the most recent FBI Crime Report with their own independent examination to bring you North Carolina’s top 50 safest cities to settle in. To make the list, a city had to have a population of over 5,000 as of 2012 and needed to meet criteria regarding both violent and property crimes, according to FBI statistics from 2012. Safewise analyzed the number of Violent Crimes, based on the number of aggravated assault, forcible rape, murder, and robbery, as well as Property Crimes, consisting of arson, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. Then they calculated the chance of these crimes happening out of 1,000 in order to level the playing field for the different populations of each city to get their results.

In data provided by the US Census Data, North Carolina is the 6th fastest growing State. If you are looking for an area with a strong economic outlook, great schools, beautiful lake front homes and a safe community feel, the Lake Norman area is a great choice.

When you are considering North Carolina as your home, Cornelius and Huntersville should be on your list of places to look. The Susan Johnson Team has been on the forefront of home sales in these wonderful Lake Norman areas for many years.

Susan says “We are confident that you will love the area and we are really excited to see these safety statistics, they just confirm our thoughts! We are ready to help you find the perfect place to call home.”

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Charlotte Welcomes & Supports Women Owned Businesses

Charlotte Welcomes & Supports Women Owned Businesses

Tips for Starting a Business in Charlotte, NC

A recent article in the Charlotte Business Journal reported that North Carolina ranks No. 3 for growth in women entrepreneurship. As a woman and a business owner myself, this was no surprise. I have always received tremendous support from the local business community and many resources for growing my business.

The article also started that since 1997, the number of women-owned businesses nationwide has increased 68 percent. And North Carolina has outpaced that rate with 91 percent growth over the same period. 

Charlotte's competitive labor costs and factory lease costs also make it  one of the least-expensive cities in the nation to do business, according to a recent study. 

In a recent report commissioned by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and Web.com Group Inc., it was noted that in a survey of more than 600 women business owners (WBOs) from around the nation, 89 percent% are optimistic about their overall business performance in 2014.

Women are more empowered than ever to take charge of their own destiny and not rely on someone else to promote them or validate their performance. Often needing flexible schedules to manage family life, women are also more motivated than ever to find alternative solutions to earning a living. The real estate industry definitely offers flexibility, although it's often a demanding job. But ones success is a direct result of their efforts, which is why I find it so rewarding.

There are a couple upcoming events supporting women owned businesses in the Charlotte area. These two events are a great way to network and meet other women entrepreneurs who can inspire you and offer guidance.

Bizwomen Mentoring Monday will be held on April 7 and will give participants one-on-one coaching sessions with influential female mentors in a speed-networking format. Also at that event, Lori Greiner from the TV show Shark Tank will share advice through a broadcast interview.

In June, The Charlotte Business Journal will host the 18th annual Women in Business Achievement Awards and Expo, celebrating the outstanding contributions of the area's leading businesswomen. Nominations are still being accepted until April 7th.

If you are considering starting a business in the Charlotte area, there are a wealth of resources out there. This Tool Kit from the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce is a great place to start.