The 10 best cities for running a home-based business - includes related article on how to select a good business city - Cover Story

Home Office Computing, Nov, 1993 by Kimberly Stansell

St. Petersburg has long been known as a great place to retire--a reputation the community boasts with pride. Still, while the median age for much of the United States has gone up, according to census figures, this community's median age continues to drop. From 42.1 in 1980 to 38.6 in 1990, there are more residents under age 24 than there are 65 or over. In fact, 36 percent of the population falls in the prime working range of 18 to 44.

Located at the southern tip of Pinellas County, the area's economy has long been driven primarily by tourism, but local economists project growth potential for jobs and profits in biotechnology and health care. Also supporting the local economy are the fields of education, government, retail and merchandising, aerospace and avionics, high-tech industry, and banking.

"As the area continues to grow at a nice pace, people are attracted by the cost of living and quality of life," says Bob Sanders, manager, economic development at the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Becoming recognized as a sports center, the city will host the Final Four NCA Basketball Tournament.

In the past six years, Tom and Cat Volkmann have lived in Nashota, Wisconsin; Tullahoma, Tennessee; Frederick, Maryland; and Hanover, Pennsylvania. Last Novembere the couple relocated back to St. Petersburg, the place where they originally met eight years ago and got married. "We decided to come home!" says Cat.

The couple operates The TomCat Connection, a small-business consulting firm. After paying $15 for a county business license, the Volkmanns were off and running. Back in Maryland, the two were involved in the Association of Home-Based Businesses. Cat has begun organizing an independent chapter in St. Petersburg. After being featured on a local radio show and in a newspaper article, the home-business owners have been quick to respond.

"We came back here for three reasons: The area's growth means opportunity for what we plan to do, the sunny climate, and the people are great," adds Cat. Speaking of the climate, whenever the sun doesn'[ shine, newstand copies of the St. Peterburg Times are free!

RESOURCES

* Association of Home-Based Businesses, 8348 Somerset Dr., Largo, Fl 34643; (813) 539-8384.

* Small Business Development Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., BSN 3403, Tampa, Fl 33620-5500; (813) 974-4274.

#10 Aurora, Colorado City population: 222,103 Counties: Arapahoe and Adams County populations: Arapahoe (391,511), Adams (265,038) Nearest major city: Denver (borders Aurora) Median housing price: $90,895 Average household income: $33,214

Major employers: Buckley Air National Guard Base, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Hughes Aircraft

Climate: Area averages 300 days of sunshine annually. Average temperatures: winter 32 degrees; spring 47 degrees; summer 70 degrees; fall 51 degrees

Taxes: State--5 percent of federal net taxable income; real estate--determined by assessed property rate of 14.34 percent and multiplied by countywide levy rates (ranging from $68.52 to $133/$1,000 assessed valuation); sales--7.5 percent