DATE: Friday, November 21, 1997             TAG: 9711210660

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   45 lines

A PLACE TO GROW CHESAPEAKE RATED 5TH IN NATION FOR AT-HOME BUSINESSES.

Chesapeake has been named one of the nation's top cities for starting and growing a home-based business, according to Home Office Computing magazine.

The magazine identified eight cities in it's annual ``Best Cities'' report, which will appear in the December issue.

Chesapeake was ranked fifth on the list, which also includes Plano, Texas, Orlando, Fla., Tucson, Ariz., and Naperville, Ill.

Cities were evaluated on their communications infrastructures, such as easy Internet and ISDN access, active networking systems within the community and business-friendly regulations.

The magazine praised the city's commissioner of the revenue for creating a special packet of information for new businesses. The packet includes regulations relevant to home-based businesses, such as checklists and phone numbers for state and federal agencies. Also in the packet is information on the local chamber of commerce and procedures for registering a partnership or a trade name.

``We try to provide home businesses with as much information as possible so that we can point them in the right direction at the beginning,'' said Ray. A. Connor, commissioner of the revenue. ``A lot of people who start a business don't realize all the ins and outs associated with running a business.''

The city was also noted for zoning regulations that allow home-based business owners to attach business signs to their residences and for small business seminars sponsored by the chamber of commerce.

Home Office Computing said the client list for many of Chesapeake's at-home workers include QVC Network, Household Credit Services, Southland Industries and Map Mobile Communications, all located in the city.

``Home-based businesses run the gamut,'' said Connor. ``We've seen licenses for retail, service even contracting businesses.''

According to Home Office Computing, home-based business are expected to grow to more than 29 million by 2001.

``We know from our annual `Best Cities' report that home-based businesses are taking off and growing around the country,'' said Nick Sullivan, editor-in-chief of the magazine. ``Chesapeake provides the valuable community support entrepreneurs need to start and maintain their home-based business.'' ILLUSTRATION: JOHN EARLE/The Virginian-Pilot

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