The Smartest Move in the Northeast

Connecticut is located in one of the most densely populated and largest urban areas in the world.

Within 500 miles of over 29% of the U.S. population (more than 96 million people), 29% of U.S. business establishments, and 33% of the U.S. GDP¹, Connecticut lies in the center of the U.S. economic engine.

Connecticut is also within 500 miles of 66% of Canada’s population and 62% of Canada’s business establishments², which includes major cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, granting valuable access to both markets for domestic and international companies – a fact which has made Canada one of Connecticut’s top five trade partners and sources of foreign investment^3,4.

Connecticut’s Location Advantages

With Metro-North commuter rail service to New York City and high-speed rail Amtrak lines throughout the Northeast, including to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., Connecticut is located in one of the most accessible parts of the country.

Bradley International Airport outside of Hartford, ranked a top 10 best airport in the U.S. 8 times in the last 9 years⁸, and Tweed New Haven Airport on the southern coast service flights throughout the nation and internationally. Seven other small airports throughout the state service private and charter flights as well. Six out-of-state airports, including John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Boston Logan, and Newark Liberty can also serve the state, each less than 2 hours from Connecticut. 

A unique mixture of pioneering start-ups, established industry leaders, and emerging innovators, alongside natural and cultural treasures, nationally ranked schools, and an exceptionally productive workforce has drawn workers and companies of all kinds to the state. These factors have resulted in Connecticut boasting the 2nd most Fortune 500 companies per capita in the U.S.¹, with 2 Fortune 100, 15 Fortune 500, and 26 Fortune 1000 companies² located throughout the state. Globally recognized brands like ESPN, Xerox and Cigna have made their headquarters in Connecticut, as have startups like Yale University quantum computing spinoff Quantum Circuits, Inc. Regardless of a company’s size, Connecticut has the talent to fuel their growth, and that talent is the cornerstone of our economy. 

Your Site Selection Assistants

AdvanceCT acts as a full service concierge for companies looking to invest in Connecticut and provides site selection assistance to match your company's needs. Our collaboration with partners at the state and local levels makes us a hub for information and resources that can help your relocation or expansion process proceed as smoothly as possible. When a consultant calls, we work with our network of local, regional and state contacts to assemble relocation packages customized to the client's needs. We can also provide information on demographic and labor force info, aerial photos, and more. Contact AdvanceCT for assistance with the following:

AdvanceCT is also proud to sponsor the Connecticut Certified Sites Program. This is a property identification and investment readiness program that:

• Showcases strategic location solutions suitable for corporate investment;
• Supports soft and hard cost site improvements;
• Decreases project uncertainty and shortens lead time.

Approved sites will be classified as one of the following:

• Shovel Ready: Properties where a combination of site characteristics, documented due diligence, and approvals deemed necessary to begin site development has been completed.
• Investment Ready: A site deemed ready for development, although additional infrastructure improvements may be required before development can begin. Such additional measures should be quick to execute.

Learn more about our available sites here.

Choosing the Right Data for Location Decisions

When taking their first pass at evaluating locations, stakeholders often look at the data that is most readily available — but that may not be the right data.

AdvanceCT's Metrics that Mislead report helps decision makers separate useful signals from data points that can distort a market's story. The report examines common economic development and location-analysis metrics that are often overused, misunderstood, or taken out of context, including workforce indicators, cost comparisons, demographic trends, business counts, and growth rankings. It explains where these measures can fall short, what they may obscure, and how relying on them too heavily can lead to incomplete or inaccurate conclusions about a community’s competitiveness.

For decision makers leading or advising companies on expansion or relocation decisions, this report provides a useful framework for asking better questions, pressure-testing assumptions, and identifying the data that truly supports a strong location recommendation.

Learn more here.

De-Risk Your Business

Selecting Connecticut as your business location offers unparalleled advantages in risk management, ensuring a stable and secure environment for your operations. Connecticut prioritizes infrastructure resilience to support businesses, boasting an electric grid that is one of the most reliable in the nation, with one of the lowest amounts of power outages in the country and the fewest in New England¹⁷. 

Coupled with low crime rates, excellent healthcare, and a highly productive workforce, Connecticut provides a comprehensive, low-risk environment ideal for business growth and stability. By choosing Connecticut, you position your business in a forward-thinking, resilient state that supports sustainable growth and operational excellence.

Learn more about how Connecticut can help de-risk your business here.