Ann Arbor: Great Place, Bad Times

Fortune Magazine Lists City As Among 100 Best For Business

POSTED: Thursday, March 27, 2008

UPDATED: 4:53 pm EDT March 27, 2008

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Ann Arbor has at least three things going for it: a "strong high-tech industry," it's "eco-minded" and, of course, it has "abundant college sports." According to Fortune magazine, that's enough in the "pro" side to earn it the No. 42 spot on its list of the "100 Best Places To Live And Launch."

The Washtenaw County college town was the only community in Michigan to make the list this year. On the "con" side of the entry, the magazine cites the state's struggling economy.

Singled out for praise in Fortune's write-up are Ann Arbor Spark, a public-private partnership that supports energy startups, and a statewide Pre-Seed Capital Fund that targets tech companies.

The magazine also praised Michigan's recent repeal of the single-business tax.

And, it said, the high cost of living in Ann Arbor is more than made up for through the city's "vibrant arts scene, award-winning restaurants, easy access to Northern Michigan's freshwater lakes, and highly ranked college sports teams."

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