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James Schlies,
vice president of economic development for the Fox Cities
Chamber of Commerce, talks about what attracts businesses and
professionals to the Fox Cities:
Q: The Fox Cities consistently is named one of the best places to live. Morgan Quinto Press has ranked Appleton one of the safest cities in America for the past five years while America’s Promise has said the Fox Cities is one of the 100 top places to raise children. Why do you think the area receives these kudos? A: When looking at the Fox Cities and why it’s such a great place to live, I think you need to look at several factors — our educational institutions, our safety record, the low cost of living and our stable economy. When it comes to education, our local schools are national leaders. Our public schools earn high marks and we’re considered a leader when it comes to charter schools. We also have a strong technical college — Fox Valley Technical College — known for its offerings and working closely with businesses. There’re other post-secondary institutions such as Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley that have a range of offerings to help residents in all stages of life get the education they’re seeking. As for safety, the Fox Cities has a low crime rate and that is something very attractive to people living here and those looking for a great place to raise a family. Our quality of life is also high. There are a lot of recreational opportunities available from the outdoors to the arts and the cost of living is also relatively low in comparison to other areas. Q: The Fox Cities’ economy also has remained strong while other areas in the nation and Wisconsin have struggled. Is that an asset when drawing people to the area? A: Definitely. The paper industry still provides a rock-solid base to our manufacturing economy. It’s an industry that still pays high wages and has good benefits. Our economy is also very diverse — we have a wide variety of industries calling this area home. There’s also a strong entrepreneurship. There are a lot of companies that started small, like the Plexus Corp., that now have an international reach. Q: What draws companies to locate and grow here? A: Businesses are discovering the Fox Cities is a great place to find professional and technical talent. We have created a place where once people come to live, they don’t want to leave. They look for another job, or even another field, if their current employer wants them to move to another location. The quality of life here is hard to beat. People who lived here and move away are often looking for a way to come back. This is a great place to raise a family and it’s a safe and secure place to live for people of any age. There’s also this quiet optimism and can-do business spirit that everything will go well.
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