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Home > BizTimes Daily > Archives > March 26, 2008
Madison and Brookfield are on list of 'Best Places'
Published March 26, 2008 - BizTimes Daily
Madison and Brookfield rank among the "100 Best Places to Live and Launch" a new small business in a new report by CNNMoney.com and Fortune magazine.
The survey attempted to identify "towns with the best mix of business advantages and lifestyle appeal."
Madison ranked 46th on the list and was described as a "vibrant college town" with an educated workforce. According to the report, "Madison is strategically placed near Chicago, Milwaukee and the Twin Cities - but many workers stay within the bounds of the city. Major companies include financial services and health care providers such as American Family Insurance and Dean Health Systems. The University of Wisconsin's flagship campus provides a talented, educated labor pool for startups: Madison boasts an unusually high density of PhDs. Entrepreneurs also benefit from tax incentives such as the Angel Investment and Venture Capital Tax Credit, which is available to investors in small tech companies. Although winters are chilly, Madison offers a humid, temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Amateur sportsmen enjoy 260 parks and 150 miles of bike trails, while the University of Wisconsin's athletic teams draw rabid fans from miles away."
Brookfield ranked 72nd in the report and was described as a "charming suburb" that welcomes small businesses. According to the report, "For the past three years, Brookfield - a white-collar suburb of Milwaukee - has significantly increased its efforts to recruit growing businesses. Brookfield is home to 10 corporate business parks, a Fortune 500 company (Fiserv Inc.) and a diverse mix of companies in the professional services, manufacturing and financial-services industries. Businesses looking to launch in or relocate to the city can find financial, networking and management support through the Waukesha County Economic Development Corp., the Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce, and Brookfield's economic development office. As part of a retention effort, the members of the city's economic development office visit at least 80 companies each year. Neighbor town Wauwatosa is home to the 175-acre Milwaukee County Research Park, which offers tech ventures affordable office space, an incubator that currently houses more than 70 tenants, and access to local angel and venture-capital networks, such as Silicon Pastures … While the city lacks a vibrant nightlife and professional sports scene, its residents are only a 15-minute drive from downtown Milwaukee and about 100 miles from Chicago."
Bellevue, Wash., was named the best community on the list.
