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Image Source: Visit Raleigh
Mayor Janet Cowell is the epitome of Raleigh’s growth. A native of Memphis, Tenn., Cowell went north to the University of Pennsylvania for college before moving to the North Carolina capital.
She’s been a driver of economic development, a city champion, and a leader in the community. And that’s all before taking the city’s highest office in January.
Through smart planning and taking advantage of assets like North Carolina State University, Raleigh has become one of the most desired places to live and work in the United States.
Forbes.com has ranked Raleigh among the top five Best Places for Business and Careers multiple times and lists the city among the best cities to retire. Meanwhile, the Milken Institute named Raleigh as the best-performing large metropolitan area, and WalletHub named it the No. 3 Best State Capital to Live In.
Image Source: Visit Raleigh
Among Raleigh’s most positive attributes:
Other factors weighed in the rankings are quality-of-life elements such as crime rates, cultural and recreational opportunities, and a number of elite colleges and universities in the area.
“The city is going in the right direction; we’re pretty happy with the way things are,” says Cowell, who won a 5-way race for mayor with 60 percent of the vote.
In other words, don’t expect Cowell to burn down the house. But she has an agenda to improve transportation and housing, promote additional growth, and focus on safety.
She is proof elected officials can have city pride—she proudly wore an NC State women’s basketball shirt during the interview with Community Playmaker—while promoting improvements.
Cowell recently met with members of Raleigh’s unhoused community, hearing first-hand the challenges those individuals face, including human trafficking. “There’s a humanistic desire to help those individuals, but then there’s also how that all impacts the overall city,” notes the Mayor.
Cowell adds: “It is very challenging for many to afford to continue to live in cities like Raleigh.”
She fears families will leave the city and county limits, slowing decades’ worth of momentum.
While new to the Mayor’s office, Cowell is no stranger to the city’s government and community’s priorities. A 30-year resident of Raleigh, she served as City Councilor, State Senator, and North Carolina State Treasurer over a 15-year prosperous period. As the only woman elected Treasurer, she managed over $100 billion in pension assets and administered the state health plan for over 900,000 state and local government workers and retirees.
Her break from public office led her to many local boards. Perhaps Cowell’s largest contribution to Raleigh, she was president and CEO of Dix Park Conservancy and raised $40 million in private funds to create Dorothea Dix Park, a 308-acre site less than one mile from downtown.
Dix Park is ranked among the country’s top parks by USA Today, one of many cultural landmarks to receive national attention. Other heralded venues include the Marbles Kids Museum, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and the North Carolina Museum of Art.
It’s no wonder Raleigh is ranked among the friendliest and happiest cities in the U.S.
Image Source: Visit Raleigh
Due to its combination of amenities, vibrant culture, and proximity to a major university, Raleigh is often compared favorably to another Southern capital: Austin. Cowell says the education system remains a pillar of strength for Raleigh.
“You can’t overstate the importance of having a school like NC State in our backyard with the STEM talent that comes out of that school,” she says.
The current environment doesn’t appear to favor federal assistance for local infrastructure projects, so Cowell is leaning into her varied background to work with private businesses, community organizations, and everyday citizens to maintain progress.
“We’re looking at all these strategies to enhance local wealth and grow business,” she says.
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