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8 Doing Business in Connecticut | 2015 Digital Media & Film By Carol Latter "T here are a number of factors that make Connecticut an at- tractive place to do business," says David Wurzer, executive vice president and chief investment officer at Connecticut Innovations, a leading source of financing and ongoing support for some of the state's most innovative companies. "In addition to our strategic location between Boston and New York, Connecticut has resources that help small businesses grow, which include financing opportunities, big businesses that team up with small businesses, state-funded programs, funding at the earliest stage of development, a thriving innovation ecosystem full of like-minded entrepreneurs, and highly-regarded universities." ›Anchors Wurzer said when companies look for a place to open their doors, relocate or expand, many actively seek out a region with a com- prehensive network of "anchors" — presti- gious institutions of learning or corporate giants that are fueling an environment of innovation and success. Connecticut is home to more than 40 universities and colleges, running the gamut from Ivy League Yale and world-class research institutions to community colleges offering two-year degrees. "I think one of our greatest strengths is that we are blessed to have great universities like Yale and the University of Connecticut," says Catherine Smith, commissioner of the state's Department of Community and Economic Development. Yale not only produces some of the brightest stars of industry and politics, but entrepreneurs who change the world with their groundbreaking research, products and services. Both Yale and UConn undertake a broad swath of research, oen in collabora- tion with major corporate players, that results in world-leading advances in fields ranging from aeronautics and advanced manufactur- ing to genomic medicine. And both are home to business and entrepreneurial incubators that regularly spin off high-end companies that draw on the resources, support and ex- pertise of these educational giants. In 2014, U.S. News & World Report ranked Yale the third-best university in the nation, and named UConn among the coun- try's top 20 public universities. ese schools and others — including Wesleyan University in Middletown, Trin- ity College in Hartford, and Connecticut College in New London — regularly merit mention on U.S. News & World Report's lists of top national colleges and universities. Connecticut is also home to one of the highest percentages of corporate and divisional headquarters. Fieen Fortune 500 companies are based in the Nutmeg State, including Fairfield-based General Electric, Hartford-based United Technolo- gies Corporation, and insurance companies e Hartford Financial Services Group, e Travelers, Aetna Inc. and Cigna Corporation, all based in Hartford County. In fact, the city of Hartford, known as "the insurance capital of the world," was the site of America's first insurance company, and e Hartford oper- ates in its namesake city to this day. Other Connecticut-based Fortune com- panies include Frontier Communications in Stamford, Northern Tier Energy in Ridge- field, Amphenol Corporation in Wallingford, and Pitney Bowes Inc. and Harman Interna- tional Industries, Inc., both headquartered in Stamford. ›Educated and Productive Workforce Going hand-in-hand with its prestigious and top-performing colleges and universities is a highly educated and productive work- force. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2013 assessment of educational attainment in Connecticut Reasons TOP to do business Continued on page 10> TOP REASONS › Why do business in the Nutmeg State? There are plenty of reasons. We pinpoint just a few. Read on to learn more.