MSA: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT
Best places ranking: #5 among large metro areas Population: 1,190,512
Hartford, a two-hour drive from both Boston and New York City, is the capital of one the country's wealthiest states, and a low-cost alternative to other major cities in the Northeast.
The past few years have seen new life -- hotels, restaurants, a convention center and a science center -- sprouting in the historic city, where you'll also find the country's first public art museum and oldest public park. About half the jobs in Hartford require at least a bachelor's degree (finance, insurance, medicine, professional management and government are the primary local paycheck-makers) but there's also an abundance of lower-cost workers available for hire. Specialty manufacturing and technology firms do well in Hartford -- it's one of the most-wired cities in the U.S. thanks to programs like "Wireless Hartford," which brings free Wi-Fi to zones targeted for development. Also, manufacturers that relocate to or expand in Hartford may be eligible for a property tax abatements and corporate tax credits. One of Hartford's struggles is academic underachievement. This fall, the city introduced High School Inc., a four-year insurance and finance academy for high school students. Funded by the local business community, High School Inc. is designed to prepare students for college and give the businesses a chance to develop their next generation of workers. -Sara Pepitone |
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Launch Toolbox:
Resources for getting started in Hartford, CT
LEARNLocal startup resources
BORROWLocal smallbiz lenders
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Hartford Business Statistics
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"What is attractive is the city's central location. Most of our business comes from outside Hartford, from as far as New York and Boston -- people driving by who stop in. " -Imani Zito
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