Are you able to work remotely? It's time to love where you live

This article was written for our sponsor, Washington Tourism Development Authority

Recently, McKinsey’s American Opportunity Survey asked 25,000 Americans about remote work and flexible work arrangements. The results are eye-opening. Long after nearly all shutdown and masking regulations have ended, remote work opportunities remain strong. The survey showed that 58% of Americans could work from home at least one day a week while 35% have the option to work from home full-time.

The opportunity to work from home provides paradigm shifts in how people look at their work-life balance. Commute becomes less of a factor while loving where you live becomes a greater one. With that in mind, many towns and businesses are focusing efforts on ensuring remote work is a convenient and viable option for anyone who may want to visit or reside there.

Washington, NC, affectionately known as “Little” Washington, is setting a great example for providing the best of all worlds. In Little Washington, residents can take advantage of the waterfront life and have ample options to work remotely, whether they just want a great meal and a change of scenery, or they would like a shared work environment for meetings or focused work.

With breathtaking views and fiber-optic internet, The Mulberry House is the perfect place to spend pleasant working hours. Named after The Mulberry Tavern, one of the first buildings built in the city, the Mulberry House is housed in The Historic Fowle Building (c. 1818) on the Pamlico River in downtown Washington.

Beyond the great location and ambience, what makes The Mulberry House such an incredible option for remote work is the convenience and diversity within the building. The restaurant, bar, brewery, coffee shop (yes, all those in one) is open seven days a week from 7am – 10 or 11pm, depending on the day. Mohammad Darar is owner of the Mulberry House and said that ensuring visitors knew they had somewhere to go, at any time, was a top priority.

“We want to give reliability. You will always have a spot to pick up a coffee, pastry, or meal at any time. This was number one. I want downtown to be part of the fabric of this community 24/7, not just at a certain time,” said Darar.

If a more specifically designed office environment is needed, Foundry and Forge provides a unique venue with two conference rooms, six offices, a two-office suite, a breakroom, and restrooms. In addition, there is a large coworking space dubbed the Captain’s Compass that can also be rented after hours to be used as an event space.

The building had been in co-owner Dawn Slann’s family for generations. “My parents owned this property. It was a welding and machine shop. I grew up coming here after school and laying on the couch watching my dad work,” she said.

The name, Foundry and Forge, honors the legacy that was built by her family while also informing the dream behind the office space. As it says on their website, the hope is that, “Foundry and Forge once again becomes a place where ideas, designs and plans become reality… where you can: Meet. Engage: Ignite.”

Located on West 5th Street in Washington, Foundry and Forge offers every amenity remote workers need including high-speed broadband, video conferencing, digital access and, as a bonus, free coffee.

Foundry and Forge and The Mulberry House are just two of the many options that continue to grow and flourish in Washington. It’s a popular misconception to believe that only larger cities will have the amenities to provide favorable working conditions.

While Slann spent much of her adult career working in the Triangle, she says that everyone should consider a change of pace. “I think everybody should come check out Washington and just see if you want to live in a small town.”

Darar agreed, “If COVID taught us one lesson, it is that small towns will prevail in many ways better than larger towns. It is safer, healthier and, with the way of doing [remote] work, you can make the same money. In my opinion, a general wise real estate investment would be in a small town in America. Whether Washington or any small town, we have the best years ahead of us.”

Slann added, “You can’t beat the commute and any day of the week you can go down to the waterfront. You just drive across 3rd street and can look at beautiful sunrises and sunsets. There is just nothing better than seeing that beautiful sunrise on the water in the mornings.”

This article was written for our sponsor, Washington Tourism Development Authority