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8 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 2019 Entrepreneurs looking to bring their visions to life. Professionals eager to advance their careers. Leaders focused on growing their businesses. All of them find Connecticut a haven for turning ideas into action. Here are just five of the many good reasons why. #1 | WELL-PRIMED TALENT PIPELINE Priming our talent pipeline is Connecticut's exceptional K-12 public schools — ranked among the top 5 in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Among the many ways our school systems are prepping our future workforce for success is by requiring that coding and computer science be integrated into all K-12 curricula. Just as critical, we're focused on providing teachers with the support they need to integrate coding into everyday student life. Of course, many of those students go on to study at one of Connecticut's 38 colleges and universities — some of which are ranked among the best in the world. #2 | HIGHLY EDUCATED, HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE Connecticut's workforce is characterized by smart, resourceful employees who think big and work hard. Connecticut's businesses can draw from a workforce comprised of nearly 50% more adults than the national average with bachelor's degrees and above. The state also ranks: • #3 in the U.S. for adults with master's degrees; • Top 10 in the U.S. for science and engineering doctoral degrees. Not only are our workers highly skilled, they rank #4 in the nation for productivity. In fact, if Connecticut were a country, we'd be the sixth most productive economy in the world — ahead of Germany, Japan and Hong Kong. #3 | TOP-RANKED QUALITY OF LIFE Attracting and retaining this exceptional workforce is a quality of life that's unparalleled in the country. From the coast to the country, there is never a shortage of spectacular hiking and biking trails, scenic shoreline activities and vibrant arts and culture offerings. Living options are just as diverse — from quaint small towns and open country to walkable cities and livable urban centers. #4 | STRATEGIC NORTHEAST LOCATION Close proximity to both New York and Boston has always been a strategic advantage for Connecticut-based businesses. Within 500 miles of Connecticut is 30% of the total U.S. population, jobs and businesses. Making that location even more advantageous is Connecticut's focus on enhancing its transportation system — from increased investment in commuter rail to development of its deep- water ports. #5 | LEADERSHIP IN INNOVATION Fueled by Yankee ingenuity, Connecticut residents and businesses have long been at the forefront of innovation on land, sea and air — from the invention of the world's first helicopter and nuclear submarine to the fuel cell that powered the Apollo moon missions. Both our well-established enterprises and our emerging entrepreneurs continue to partner to keep Connecticut in the driver's seat of innovation. In the heart of our cities as well as the centers of our organizations are dozens of innovation hubs, maker spaces, coworking spaces and technology accelerators which foster a supportive ecosystem for innovation. To learn more about why Connecticut is such a great place to build your business or your career, go to ChooseCT.gov. Also look for CTDECD on Facebook and Twitter and Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development on LinkedIn. 5 REASONS TO BUILD YOUR CAREER OR YOUR BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT SPONSORED CONTENT