25 best cities for independent businesses

Locally-owned businesses are at the heart of the American economy. They create jobs, boost local economies and add vibrancy to nearby communities — and that is particularly true in the 25 cities on our list. These metropolitan areas, which range from bustling New York City to towns in central Oregon, are hotbeds for small businesses and local entrepreneurs. See where your hometown ranks. (Indie City Index compiled by Civic Economics.)

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25. Lancaster, Pa., is home to Central Market, the country's oldest continuously-operating farmers' market. The market is open three days a week and sells regional food specialties and Amish goods.

Stan Honda (Getty Images) /

24. Valdosta, Ga., encourages its residents to patron local businesses by thinking "B.I.G.," as in, "Buy In Greater Valdosta."

Elliott Minor / AP

23. Burlington, Vt.'s Church Street Marketplace is filled with independent restaurants and homegrown coffee shops. The shopping district won the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "Great American Main Street Award" in 1997.

Toby Talbot / AP

22. Atlantic City, N.J., perhaps best known for its casinos, is home to an entire ecosystem of small businesses, ranging from restaurants and bars to entertainment and recreation.

Wayne Parry / AP

21. Bend, Ore.'s chamber of commerce, which has more than 1,200 members, is one of the largest chambers of commerce in Oregon and one of the largest in the Northwest.

Jeff Barnard / ASSOCIATED PRESS

20. Corvallis, Ore., which bills itself as "America's most innovative city," has a number of custom jewelry shops, independent restaurants and local boutiques.

Don Ryan / AP

19. More than 3,000 businesses are registered in Longview, Wash., a town with a population of 35,000.

Elaine Thompson / AP

18. Redding, Calif.'s municipal airport offers daily flights to and from San Francisco as part of its effort to draw more entrepreneurs and business patrons to the area.

Michael Burke

17. Mount Vernon, Wash.'s popular downtown district was host to "Spirit of the Spud," an event where residents gathered to make the world's largest potatoes au gratin.

Barry Sweet / AP

16. Eugene, Ore., is looking to the future with its "Envision Eugene" initiative that pledges to improve the city's small-business districts, neighborhoods and transportation systems by 2030.

Brian Davies / AP

15. In 2006, Bridgeport, Conn., created the Minority Business Enterprise Program in hopes of boosting local woman- and minority-owned ventures.

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

14. Santa Rosa, Calif., about 55 miles north of San Francisco, rezoned its business districts in hopes of attracting more small businesses.

Todd Jenkins / For The Washington Post

13. Lewiston, Idaho, offers a series of tax credits for small businesses that create jobs or make investments in the community.

Dean Hare / AP

12. New York City has long been a haven for independently-owned businesses and restaurants, and enclaves in Little Italy (Manhattan), Greenpoint (Brooklyn) and Jackson Heights (Queens) boast particularly high concentrations of locally-owned businesses.

Gary Hershorn / Reuters

11. Glens Falls, N.Y.'s revolving loan program helps local entrepreneurs start and expand their small businesses.

Mike Groll / AP

10. Gainesville, Ga.'s apprenticeship program encourages area students to explore area business opportunities. About 800 high schoolers are placed as trainees in local industries every year.

9. Harrisonburg, Va., which calls itself a "pet-friendly" city, is full of local pet grooming facilities, supply stores and inns that welcome cats and dogs.

Jane Harper / AP

8. Dalton, Ga., which calls itself "the carpet capital of the world," produces nearly 90 percent of the functional carpeting used throughout the world.

Lido Vizzutti / AP

7. Austin, Tex., has a motto that embodies its eclectic mix of small businesses: "Keep Austin Weird." National chains including Whole Foods and Sweet Leaf Tea were founded in Austin.

HARRY CABLUCK / AP

6. Barnstable Town, Mass., offers low-interest-rate loans to residents who want to start a business. Borrowers must create or retain one job for each $35,000 they receive from the Micro-Enterprise Loan Program.

5. San Jose, Calif., is rife with technology start-ups and other independent businesses.

111th Aerial Photography Squadron / San Jose Convention and Visitor's Bureau

4. Carson City, Nev., is in the process of redeveloping two of its major business districts, which feature homegrown restaurants and a microbrewery.

Staff / Reuters

3. Medford, Ore.'s chamber of commerce promotes local alliances with its Connect for Lunch program that encourages local entrepreneurs and business owners to work together.

Rick Bowmer / AP

2. Bellingham, Wash., is encouraging residents to chime in with their ideas for a revamped downtown using an online survey on the city's Web site. The city will share its plans with residents early next year.

1. Ocean City, N.J., is home to dozens of small boutiques and homegrown restaurants. "We have very few chains in Ocean City," said Michele Gillian, executive director of the city's chamber of commerce. "We have one Subway, and that's basically it."

/ Associated Press

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