Money Magazine Names Charlottesville in the Top 50 Places to Launch a Small Business

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From the Chamber of Commerce website…

City Chosen as a Top Place to Start a Business by Money Magazine

Charlottesville is the Only City in Virginia to Make the List This Year

The Metro Charlottesville area has been named in the top 50 places in the country to launch a small business by Money Magazine. Charlottesville was also ranked 19th among smaller cities in the country with Billings, MT and Bismarck, ND taking the top spots. For all markets Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Houston, and Hartford made up the top five. Charlottesville and other Virginia cities have made similar lists in previous years but this is the first year that Charlottesville has been singled out as the only city in the state to make either the small, medium or large metropolitan listing.

“We are very pleased to be recognized in this prestigious survey this year for our healthy business climate and competitive costs for doing business,” said Aubrey Watts, Director of Economic Development for the City, “we hope that this important ranking encourages other enterprising businesses to consider Charlottesville home and recognize the opportunities that are possible in Charlottesville even in these challenging economic times.”

According to the editors of the survey the top markets had “growing economies, affordable workers, stable housing markets, low crime — these metro areas have all the features entrepreneurs need to thrive.” The rankings cover hundreds of metropolitan areas and are based on job and income growth, business and living costs, crime, and educational attainment. The city is no stranger to accolades; Charlottesville has the honor of besting 402 other metro areas in the United States and Canada to claim the title of “Best Place to Live” in “Cities Ranked and Rated” by Bert Sperling and Peter Sander.