Today, Winton-Salem is the fifth largest city in North Carolina, and still growing and evolving. With the development of a diverse business base, we’ve become a leader in nanotechnology and stem cell research, finance and financial technology, manufacturing, cybersecurity, and aviation- again reaffirming our time-honored tradition of boldly forging ahead. In fact, Winston-Salem has been consistently ranked as one of the best cities in the nation for generating new startup companies by Wallethub.com.

Over $2 billion has been recently invested in Winston-Salem’s downtown development, now home to more than 120 local restaurants, shops, galleries, cafes, breweries, and bars — as well as more than 1,200 hotel rooms. The efforts have gained national attention, earning praise from Forbes as one of America’s Top 10 Best Downtowns.

Highlighting the downtown redevelopment efforts is the Innovation Quarter (IQ), a booming mixed-use district and one of America’s fastest-growing research parks. Home to 90 companies and more than 4,500 workers, the IQ is set along the eastern edge of downtown. That’s where hulking factories and abandoned warehouses have been transformed into thriving tech hubs, art studios, craft breweries, and co-working spaces, signaling Winston-Salem’s shift from a manufacturing-based economy to one centered on technology, medicine, and education.

Speaking of education, Winston-Salem was recently named one of America’s top college towns by Southern Living, underscoring its commitment to higher education. The city is currently home to more than 30,000 college students and six standout colleges and universities.