Please note:

This tool is designed to provide a quick search on a limited number of criteria. While it's useful as a quick and easy way of identifying prospective communities, we strongly encourage you not to overlook the many wonderful counties in the Carolinas whose best attributes may not be represented in the search criteria. How do we rank counties?

Tip: Experts suggest that workers are willing to commute anywhere from thirty minutes to sixty minutes in more rural areas. If your business requires a large workforce, you may need to be in or near more densely populated areas.

Data Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2008 Estimates

Tip: Lower income communities can be good locations for ready and willing workforces.

Data Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2008 Estimates

Tip: If your business is highly dependent on your suppliers, it may save you time and money to locate near them.

Data Source: HarrisInfo Source Selectory, Twinsburg, OH

Tip: If your distribution network is regional, you will better meet your customers' demands if you locate near them.

Data Source: HarrisInfo Source Selectory, Twinsburg, OH

Tip: Industry clusters can be fertile grounds for growing and expanding your business. Take advantage of supply price competition, abundant skilled labor and readymade customers.

Data Source: HarrisInfo Source Selectory, Twinsburg, OH

Tip: Higher unemployment rates can be good indicators of available workforce.

Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2008

Tip:If your business requires a significant amount of skilled labor, higher rates of educational attainment can be a good indicator of a skilled and trainable workforce.

Data Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2008 Estimates

Tip:Locating near institutions that teach the skills and knowledge needed by your business is an excellent way to recruit talent. This item will help you locate in communities where the greatest amounts of degrees that matter to your business are being conferred.

Data Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2002 Survey

Tip:Find communities where the wage rates are lowest for your industry. Combine this question with Occupations to find communities with the most affordable and abundant labor.

Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, June, 2008

Tip:The presence of occupations relevant to your industry is a good indicator of availability of the skilled workforce you'll need. Combine this question with Wages to find communities with the most affordable and abundant labor.

Data Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2008 Estimates

Tip:The Carolinas are crisscrossed with 6 major interstates (I-85, I-26, I-77, I-95, I-20 and I-40) and over 140,000 miles of state highways. For this question, communities are ranked for the miles of interstate within their borders.

Data Source: TeleAtlas

Tip:Six international airports, along with 14 regional airports, provide a global gateway to and from the Carolinas. This question will help you find a community near a major airport.

Data Source: TeleAtlas

Tip:Four Class I railroads with 37 freight lines operate over 5,500 miles of track throughout the Carolinas. For this question, communities are ranked for the miles of railroads within their borders.

Data Source: TeleAtlas