Fredericksburg Businesses, Overall Growth and Quality of Life on the Upswing

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Fredericksburg apparently is applying for a job or seeking college admission.

Or, more accurately, simply patting itself on the back with no small amount of civic pride.

Citing recognition from various publications and organizations, Fredericksburg, in a press release, is seeking to make the case that business is boffo and the quality of life for residents is something at which to marvel.

“It’s wonderful to see all these varied publications recognize what we have long known – that Fredericksburg is an outstanding place to live, work, visit and start a business,” said Fredericksburg Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. “We look forward to welcoming all of the above in the years to come.”

So, here's the resume, er, list, provided by the city:

* Mary Washington Hospital tied for Virginia’s sixth-best hospital in U.S. News & World Report’s recently released annual rankings. Mary Washington Hospital finished fourth in the Washington area.

* Entrepreneur magazine named Fredericksburg as the ninth-best U.S. city for entrepreneurs.

* Livability.com named Fredericksburg as the 92nd-best place to live among more than
2,000 U.S. cities with populations between 20,000 and 350,000.

* Fredericksburg placed no. 1 in quality of life in WalletHub’s rankings of 1,268 small U.S. cities.

* Forbes magazine ranked the University of Mary Washington as the 79th-best public
college in the U.S.

* Fredericksburg ranked no. 46 on a list by House Beautiful of the 50 best small U.S. towns
for antiques.

* Fredericksburg-based environmental consulting firm Marstel-Day LLC was named to ZweigWhite’s 2016 “Hot Firm List” of fast-growing companies for the eighth-straight year, and also made the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing U.S. private companies.

* Fredericksburg restaurants Spencer Devon Brewing, La Petite Auberge, Allman’s BBQ and Kybecca all won awards in this year’s “Virginia is for Lovers Culinary Challenge.” Southern Living magazine also recognized Allman’s as one of the South’s top barbecue restaurants.

* The Virginia Tourism Corporation named Mason-Dixon Café as one of the best brunch spots in Virginia, and the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop as one of Virginia’s unusual museums “with interesting claims to fame.” The VTC also recognized Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg’s unique guided tours, and declared Fredericksburg one of Virginia’s “8 Small Towns For Outdoor Lovers.”

* The Fredericksburg Police Department received Accreditation with Excellence through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the highest rating a law-enforcement agency can obtain from CALEA. Only 27 of Virginia’s 244 law-enforcement agencies are accredited through CALEA.

* OnlyInYourState.com named downtown Fredericksburg as a Virginia Main Street that “you gotta visit.”

* Fitch Ratings affirmed Fredericksburg’s strong AA+ bond rating, citing the city’s “prudent financial policies,” “moderate debt ratios” and “healthy reserve levels.”

* Gogobot named Fredericksburg as the fourth–most exciting city in Virginia, trailing only Alexandria, Charlottesville and Williamsburg.

Image: City of Fredericksburg