It comes to no surprise to residents of Fayetteville that our All-America City is proud to be a wonderful place for veterans and their families to live. But that doesn’t mean it’s not nice to hear confirmation of that from outside sources.

Livability.com has named Fayetteville the No. 1 city in the country for military veterans to live.

“Given the fact that there is a very strong mutual respect between the community and the military in Fayetteville, this isn’t a surprise,” said Doug Peters, President and CEO of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce. “Certainly the community continues to thrive because of the relationship that exists. And this ranking helps confirm that our city has truly embraced our strong military connections.”

According to Livability.com, the cities “were chosen based on quality-of-life attributes that appeal to veterans such as moderate climate, low cost of living and unemployment rate, as well as availability of outdoor recreational opportunities and cultural amenities. Additional consideration was given to cities with proximity to military installations and VA hospitals.

Coming on the heels of winning the 2011 All-America City honor, Fayetteville has embraced all of the factors that went in to this recognition.

“We know it’s important for veterans and their families to have access to quality medical care and social services,” says John Hood, Livability.com spokesman, “so we chose cities with excellent health-care systems and VA hospitals. The cities on this list also tend to be more diverse, have excellent school systems and higher education options and greater opportunities for post-military employment.”

Hood says Livability.com editors also looked at cities close to military bases, which give veterans access to other resources such as free legal advice and counseling, discounted food and household goods at the base commissary, and equipment rentals.

“One thing all 10 cities have in common is their inclusive nature and a proven history of community support for military families,” Hood says.

In recognizing Fayetteville, Livability.com said the city “has a military history that goes all the way back to the Revolutionary War. Fayetteville is considered America’s First Military Sanctuary Community because of the strong support the city offers servicemen and their families. Businesses across the city offer deep discounts to current and former members of the military. Veterans have many options for services through Fort Bragg, nearby Pop AFB and Camp Lejeune. A moderate climate with all four seasons, diverse population, quick access to both beaches and mountains, and a multitude of recreational opportunities help make Fayetteville a top choice for veterans and retirees”.

November 8, 2011

Contact: Brandon Plotnick, Coordinator, Marketing & Communications

(910) 433-6766 ; bplotnick@fayettevillencchamber.org