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118 Doing Business in Connecticut | 2014 A s part of the metro New York economy, the region is remarkably diverse. Advanced manufacturing, financial services, professional ser- vices and health care top the employment categories in the area. While 11 Fortune 500 corporations call southwestern Con- necticut/Fairfield County home, there has also been considerable growth in small business as well. Here, you can enjoy all the benefits of living close to "the international city" while also enjoying the benefits of sub- urban living. The region boasts a diverse, skilled and mobile workforce. According to Forbes, the county ranks eighth in the nation for education, with over 45 percent of residents having earned a bachelor's degree or higher. Fifty-two percent of bachelor's degree holders are from out of state and almost 20 percent are foreign born. In Stamford, the largest workforce in the county, over 30 percent of bachelor's degree holders are foreign born. From urban lofts to suburban homes, the region provides a wide variety of hous- ing options, with the charm of distinctly individual New England cities and towns, and just 40 to 60 miles from Manhattan. Such proximity allows almost 57,000 Fairfield County residents to work in New York State, while 36,000 New York resi- dents make the commute into Fairfield County. The region is served by mass transit, interstate highways and pictur- esque parkways. As reverse commuting into the region accelerates, Stamford's Transportation Center has become the busiest station outside of Grand Central on Metro-North's New Haven line. South- western Connecticut is the most densely populated region of the state. Where the 2010 census shows that the county's population was 916,829, it's estimated to have grown to 939,000 in 2013. The county contains four of the state's largest cities: Bridgeport, Stamford Norwalk and Danbury. The United States Census Bureau ranked the Bridgeport-Stamford- Norwalk, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area as the 57th most populous metro- politan statistical area in the United States. The Gold Coast (com- munities along the Long Island Sound from Green- wich to Fairfield) contributes to making it the six best counties in the US, in per-capita personal income. Fairfield County is also home to many middle and working class-cities and towns. Fairfield County is becom- ing the destination. Workers are coming from New York City to jobs in the county. In recent years, employers like Blue Sky Studios, NBC Sports, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Tronox have moved operations to Fairfield County. Other notable companies calling the county home include Bigelow, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridge- water Associates, Diageo, Emcor Group, Gartner, General Electric, Hubbell, MBI, Nestlé Waters North America, UBS, RBS, Priceline Group, People's United Financial, Praxair, Pitney Bowes, the WWE, W.R. Berkley and Xerox. The county is very attractive on many levels. Commercial and indus- trial space is reasonably priced while still providing easy access to the greatest markets in the world. There is a wide array of housing for all budgets. The availability of workforce housing allows for an average commute time of 28 minutes. Fairfield County offers a rich quality of life. Its residents can easily take advantage of beaches on the Long Island Sound, state and national parks, an array of dining ex- periences or take in a show. Southwestern Connecticut has become a haven for bank- ing and investment firms. They're not only choosing Fairfield County because of its business climate and educated workforce; they're choosing it because of the excellent quality of life it offers. SPONSORED REPORT Southwestern Connecticut Economic Development Regions in CT POWERING PROGRESS > Connecticut Light & Power, Connecticut's largest electric company, powers commerce and innovation. It is in the second year of a five-year, $300-million plan to build system resiliency and maintain reliability. > Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas are committed to delivering reliable energy and superior customer service. Check more CT facts at http://ow.ly/w094o Stamford's transportation center is the busiest outside of New York City on Metro-North's New Haven line. It is within walking distance of significant employers and excellent housing stock. Regional Contact Information: Lisa Mercurio, Director of Fairfield County Business Exchange Business Council of Fairfield County One Landmark Square, Suite 300, Stamford, CT 06901-2679 Phone: (203) 359-3220 E:Mail: lmercurio@businessfairfield.com www.businessfairfield.com