Venture outside the historic downtown and
you’ll find more tech businesses, advanced
manufacturing companies and an array of thriving
small businesses. Garner’s school options include
one of the best magnet schools in the Wake
County Public School System (Garner Magnet
High School) as well as a new high school (South
Garner High) in only its second year. All of that is
supported by a diverse population of residents
that gives the town a more cosmopolitan feel than
you might at first expect.
Resident Charlie Brignac moved to Garner
from Atlanta six years ago. His daughter and
grandchildren reside in Raleigh and have for
several years, and his frequent visits to the
Triangle piqued his interest in Garner.
“We identified Garner as the place we wanted
to live and actually bought a house here two
years before we moved to the area,” he said.
“When you go down Timber Drive [in Garner], it
is distinctly different from any other part of the
[Triangle] area, in my opinion. There’s just a peace
and tranquility about it that just exudes what the
community is all about.”
Brignac said the pace of life in Garner is unlike
the hustle and bustle of city life, and that’s what
drew him in. He also noted the accessibility
of town resources and organizations like the
Chamber of Commerce and the town’s economic
development team.
Brignac has served on Garner’s Planning
Commission—the intermediary technical body
between the Town Council and Garner’s Planning
Department—and he praises the investment
and “forward-thinking” nature of the town’s
leadership. Moreover, he said Garner’s leadership
is consistently working to ensure the hometown
feel that Garner exudes is embedded in the fabric
of the community.
“There’s also a tremendous service level in the
community,” he added, mentioning the Garner
Police Athletics and Activities League as well
as numerous faith-based organizations and
nonprofits that serve people with various needs.
One thing that both Hodges and Brignac
emphasized is the sense of community in Garner.
Garner is a haven for fellowship, camaraderie and
inclusiveness, they say.
“The sense of community here is nice. There have
been some people that have lived here all their
lives, but there are lots of new people here too.
But even for people who have only been here for
a short time, I think they already have the feeling
that Garner is home,” Hodges said. “People are
very open and welcoming here — you just fit right
in quickly.”
She highlighted the diversity of businesses in
the area, the Garner Senior Center and activities
for people of all ages as threads that tie this
welcoming community together.
Added Brignac, “If I had to describe Garner with
just one word, it would be ‘love.’ Everybody’s
willing to share it.”
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