When Craig Meadows accepted the job of Bedford city manager six years ago, a real estate agent warned, "You’re going to find us pretty quiet after living in the suburbs of Charlotte - it’s like moving to Mayberry."

To Meadows, it was like coming home. At one point, he’d been interim city manager of Mt. Airy, N.C. - Andy Griffith’s home and actual Mayberry behind the TV show. Bedford, a progressive small city whose moniker was the "World’s Best Little Town," is his kind of burg.

As city manager, one of Meadows’ goals is help tourists discover all Bedford has to offer - the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway, Smith Mountain Lake, a city/county museum, an 1838 plantation manor, and the famed D-Day Memorial.

In November, a $2.7 million, 10,700-square-foot welcome center opened, the result of a partnership between the city and Bedford County to promote tourism. Grants from the federal Transportation Enhancement Program funded about $1.1 million, leaving $1.6 million to be split between the city and county through a pooled bond program.

"The D-Day Memorial has attracted 800,000 visitors since 2001; we’d like to make travelers aware of our other attractions," Meadows said.

Inside the center are visitor resources, meeting rooms, permanent exhibits, and local memorabilia, including Bedford’s prized 1930s-era Seagrave fire engine. What makes the facility unique is that it is designed for the community as much as for travelers.

Among Bedford’s other remarkable features are its city-owned electric service, its long history of cable Internet service, and city government’s efficient use of technology. A&A helped Bedford develop an Internet GIS and an Internet tool for estimating utility bills. The city has recently implemented an electronic system of reading water and electric meters that is fast and sidesteps most sources of human error.

Since Meadows came to Bedford, he’s helped to found a Kiwanis club and was elected its first president. He’s treasurer this year. He’s also active in the United Way of Central Virginia, where he recently served as funds distribution chairman. Meadows also served as assistant coach of his daughter’s softball team in the city league. With three children, 15, 11, and 8, playing baseball or softball, he and his wife can be found at the ballpark almost every spring or early summer evening.