FSB scoured the country for towns that combine a great business environment with alluring leisure offerings. We looked at economic conditions such as local taxes rates alongside natural beauty - and easy access to museums, hungry gamefish, and more.
Are job worries tempting you to start your own company? We canvassed the country to find towns with the best mix of business advantages and lifestyle appeal. Check out our 100 top picks and find the perfect place to build your dream.
3. Buford, Ga.
Population: 13,576
Pros: Affordable housing, scenic environment
Con: Aggressive competition for labor force
Safe neighborhoods, affordable real estate and a relaxed pace, along with easy access to major highways, draw Georgians to lakeside Buford, 35 miles northeast of Atlanta. Besides being home to an artist colony with 40 working painters, photographers, sculptors, and other creative types, Buford also draws entrepreneurs: about 30 new startups launch every month in this 16-square-mile city, according to Buford's occupational tax clerk.
As part of Gwinnett County, Buford is involved in the region's greater effort to develop its presence in industries such as healthcare, information technology, distribution and trade, and advanced communications. Depending on the business, owners may find tax exemptions (for instance, a 100% sales tax break for qualified manufacturing equipment), tax credits (such as the job tax credit for certain tech industries creating at least 25 jobs in a single year), and assistance in permit acquisition and hiring. Active small business organizations, such as the nonprofit Buford Business Alliance, bring member owners together for networking events and to promote tourism in the area.
Besides lakeside activities such as boating and fishing, the area downtown bustles with restaurants,
boutiques, and art galleries. There's also the Mall of Georgia, the largest in the Southeast, with 15 million
visitors a year.
-Peter McDougall
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http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fsb/0803/gallery.best_places_to_launch.fsb/3.html
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