College towns make grade by drawing entrepreneurs

As a student at Davidson College in North Carolina, art-lover Drew Crawford saw business potential in the small college town. The nearby suburbs of Charlotte, N.C., were growing, and the town saw a steady stream of students and their parents each year.

So Crawford developed a plan for a gallery featuring functional art such as hand-carved furniture, blown glass and pottery. Last year, he brought Wooden Stone to life right in Davidson.

"It’s centrally located, there’s a booming population, it was perfect," Crawford said. "Because of the college, we had this arts draw already."

Entrepreneurs looking for a growing, diverse consumer base and young, talented employees are finding that college towns — and frequently, their own undergraduate stomping grounds — fit the bill. College-town populations are booming; operating a business is usually cheaper in a small town than in a big city; and college towns boast cultural advantages and educated young workers.

Because knowing the lay of the land is a big advantage, many entrepreneurs turn toward their old alma maters.

By Madlen Read, Associated Press

Full Story: http://www.insidebayarea.com/businessnews/ci_3264518

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