Southwest Virginia has been called "one of the last great places on earth," and Russell County is its epicenter. In recent years, our local and state leaders strategized to transform our location into a prime spot for economic growth. In 2004, we deployed a world-class, telecommunications network that attracts the world's largest, high-tech companies, such as CGI, into our borders. We proved we could deliver the workforce, the tools and the infrastructure needed to help any company not only to succeed but to thrive. Couple all this with our area's lower cost of living, its breathtaking landscapes, and premier outdoor recreation, and you truly do have "one of the last great places on earth."

The Russell County Chamber of Commerce provides a wide array of programming and networking opportunities for its members and the community. The Chamber of Commerce also works directly with local government agencies to promote the County's growth and prosperity.

You'll seldom see snarled traffic or experience long commutes in Russell County. Our rural location offers a slower pace and lower cost of living - as well as access to some of the most pristine, undisturbed natural environments in the American Southeast.

• Our cost of living (87.6 index) is 12.4 percent lower than the U.S. average.
• Median home cost is $140,000 - approximately 47 percent lower than the median price of new homes sold in the United States.
• We also have one of the lowest median property tax rates in the nation, with only 22 percent of U.S. counties having a lower rate than Russell County. The average annual property tax paid by Russell County residents is only 1.25 percent of their yearly income.