Best Places for Entrepreneurs. What is your community doing?

BusinessWeek.com takes a look at towns actively recruiting entrepreneurs, cities that are remarketing themselves, and Americans setting up shop abroad

When it comes to starting a business (or buying a house), the adage has remained the same: Location, location, location. However in recent years, the definition of what makes the perfect location in which to launch a new venture has changed — or rather expanded.

"We are starting to see virtually every community try and bring in and grow new industries," says Jack Schultz, author of Boomtown USA http://boomtownusa.blogspot.com/ and CEO of Agracel, an Effingham, Ill., outfit that specializes in industrial development in small towns.

The Best Place for Your Business

Though different places approach promoting entrepreneurship differently, some ideas have really taken hold. "Economic gardening," a practice which originated in Littleton, Colo., provides entrepreneurs with the kinds of resources common within large companies. The City of Littleton has an office that provides tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping capability to assess the demographics, focus groups, Web optimization, marketing tools, and competitor intelligence to any business within their borders. "Many of the companies never even knew such tools existed," says Gibbons.

The idea of economic gardening has spread so far in economic development circles that a virtual community of professionals now exists on Littleton’s list-serv http://www.littletongov.org/bia/economicgardening/default.asp . Entrepreneurs looking to get the inside scoop on up-and-coming entrepreneur-friendly communities can subscribe and learn from this group of 525 people from more than 15 countries.
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jun2006/sb20060612_088445.htm

Plus: Dos and Don’ts Tip Sheet

Starting a new business or moving an existing one can seem like a daunting task, especially if you’re not sure where you want to ultimately set up shop. Every good business idea can find a home somewhere, but different cities and towns differ greatly in what they offer a potential entrepreneur; and the entrepreneur’s needs and wants vary just as much. Here are some things to consider before making your move:

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/tipsheet/06/8.htm

Full Story: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jun2006/sb20060612_043112.htm?chan=smallbiz_smallbiz+index+page_best+places+for+entrepreneurs

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Report Identifies Factors that Encourage Small Business Growth in Rural Areas http://www.matr.net/article-19484.html