Connecticut Offers Proximity & Access
“When we considered locations for our expansion, Connecticut was an obvious choice. Connecticut is home to some of the world's leading universities, including Yale and the University of Connecticut… an attractive combination of highly skilled engineering and programming talent, amenities for employees, and a supportive business environment. Its central location also allows us to leverage the abundant engineering talent, technical resources and access to the investment community throughout the northeast's Boston to Washington corridor.” — Dr. John Evans, CEO of Carillon Technologies |
Connecticut is located in one of the most densely populated and largest urban agglomerations 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 32% 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 investment3.
Reaching these populations and business centers is highly convenient given Connecticut's central East Coast location, connections via Interstate 95, 84, and 91, commercial and passenger rail services including Amtrak, a top-rated international airport, and three deep water ports.
Our compact geography allows for better accessibility to state and local government and industry associations. Coupled with a top-rated education and childcare systems and affordability compared to major cities and our Northeast neighbors, Connecticut makes the ideal place to live, work, and locate a business.
Connecticut’s Location Advantages
- Between NYC and Boston — both cities are quickly and easily reachable via Amtrak
- Bradley International Airport, Tweed-New Haven Airport, and easy access to 6 other international airports including JFK and La Guardia
- 4 Foreign Trade Zones
- 3 deep water ports
- 38 colleges and universities
- Office space that on average costs 63% less than New York City4
These location advantages, along with Connecticut’s strong talent pool, have contributed to 2 Fortune 100, 15 Fortune 500 (the 2nd most per capita in the U.S.5), and 25 Fortune 1000 companies6 locating here. Join them.
“I’ve run businesses for Lockheed Martin in a number of states including Florida and New Jersey and Maryland, and Connecticut has been the most friendly state. Flat out, we’ve had the most communication with the political establishment, the governor, and the senators.” — Paul Lemmo, Head of Lockheed Martin IWSS |
Infrastructure
Connecticut occupies a unique position, acting as the Gateway to New England while being ingrained in the Tri-State (CT-NY-NJ) economy. Stamford, one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. and one of the top destinations for millennial workers in the nation1, is a 45-minute train ride from New York City’s Grand Central Station, and the state’s capital, Hartford, is 1.5-hour drive from Boston.
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 the 8th best airport in the U.S.2, 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.
Connecticut Invests in Transportation Infrastructure
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is making $9.7 billion in capital investments. This includes investments across various modes of transportation such as highways, bridges, public transit and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. “Ongoing maintenance and upkeep of our existing infrastructure, combined with strategic, thoughtful investment in projects that reduce congestion, improve mobility and efficiency, and minimize our environmental impacts are critical to keep Connecticut moving forward and competitive in the future,” CTDOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti said (Transportation Topics News).
Transportation Options
- I-84, I-91 and I-95 go up and down the East Coast, throughout the U.S. and into Canada
- 50+ train stations in Connecticut
- CT Rail passenger service
- Amtrak passenger rail service
- CTtransit bus system
“Connecticut is an attractive company location with its top-quality educated workforce, universities, quality of life and a focus on building strong infrastructure for growth.” — Pat LaVecchia, Founder & CEO of Oasis Pro Markets |
Broadband
Connecticut's broadband network is one of the fastest and most built out in the nation. Over 97.2% of the state has access to low-priced broadband with speeds of 100mbps or faster3, with BroadbandNow ranking the state #3 in the U.S. for internet, based on coverage, speed, price, and availability4. Connecticut cities and towns continue to expand their fiber optic networks, with many ranking nationally for internet speeds. In fact, the state capital of Hartford was rated #3 for broadband speeds out of all U.S. cities5. Regardless of your needs, be they personal or professional, Connecticut's broadband infrastructure remains one of the most accessible and reliable in the nation.
Water Resources
Water is a central theme in the character of Connecticut as a maritime state and one of the suppliers of potable water to New York City. Water is of critical importance to many industries that are vital to Connecticut’s economy, including advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage production.
Our water quality is some of the best in the United States, as Connecticut has gone to great lengths to ensure its integrity. In fact, Connecticut remains the only state in the country to continue a prohibition on sewage treatment plant discharges within a watershed.
Connecticut’s abundance of water and extensive, modern infrastructure will allow companies to reliably secure their water needs without the risk of severe river and aquifer rights restrictions during droughts or the need for expensive pipeline buildouts.
#10 | 43% | #7 | 6,000 |
1U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, QCEW, 2023, AdvanceCT calculations; 2Statistics Canada 2023, AdvanceCT calculations; 3U.S. Department of Commerce, 2024; 4Cushman & Wakefield, Q2 2024; 5Fortune 500, 2024, U.S. Census Bureau, PEP, 2023, AdvanceCT calculations; 6Fortune 500, 2024; 7Niche, 2024; 8Conde Nast, 2024; 9BroadbandNow, 2024; 10BroadbandNow, 2024; 11Business Facilities, 2024; 12World Population Review, 2023; 13Statista, 2024; 14Statista, 2023; 15J.D. Power, 2023; 16CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, 2023
