Techies' new frontiers: Portland OR, Bethlehem PA, Blacksburg VA, Bellevue WA, Boise ID, Folsom CA

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Portland, Oregon
Some people call it Silicon Forest. That's because the Portland metropolitan area has done an impressive job of attracting entrepreneurial tech talent, thanks in part to the presence of Tektronix, IBM and Intel. In fact, many of the city's computer-technology companies were started by former employees of these tech giants, focusing on areas such as open-source and educational software. But Portland isn't just about computer technology. Over the years, the city has earned a reputation for progressive energy policies, attracting a large sustainable-technology community, as well as the U.S. headquarters of Vestas, the world's largest wind-turbine manufacturer. Support for the Portland tech scene comes from organizations such as Oregon InC, a state-funded venture dedicated to nurturing Oregon's innovation economy.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
With the decline of its steel industry over the past two decades, Bethlehem has worked hard to encourage its burgeoning local tech community. Numerous startups have sprouted in recent years, thanks in part to the city's two hospitals and two local colleges. New technologies currently in development range from computer chips to instruments used in truck-tire manufacturing. Ben Franklin Technology Partners, a state-funded program based in Lehigh University, works with early-stage tech firms across 19 counties, awarding grants and helping companies find everything from funding to skilled workers and technology. The city also provides support, working with local groups to offer low-interest loans and enterprise-zone incentives.

Blacksburg, Virginia
Home to Virginia Tech, the state's largest university, Blacksburg boasts a large pool of talented graduates. Many of them stick around to launch or work at tech companies based in the university's fast growing Corporate Research Center (CRC), a 120-acre research park and incubator. With 130 private companies in occupancy, ranging from corporations such as Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) to tiny startups, the CRC covers technologies from computer hardware to pharmaceuticals. Business and financial support in the area comes from the CRC itself, as well as the Virginia Active Angel Network, and from national investment funds with which the Virginia Tech Foundation has established relationships.

Bellevue, Washington
With Microsoft's Redmond headquarters just five miles from downtown, Bellevue attracts a wealth of talented software engineers. (Hitachi and Sun Microsystems also have facilities in the area). The city hosts a number of successful startups, such as Expedia.com, dreamt up by former Microsoft employees, as well as a growing community of videogame developers. Other thriving local industries include telecommunications and wireless technology. For these industries, one of the city's main attractions is investment firm Trilogy Equity Partners, which was co-founded by John Stanton, Western Wireless founder and former CEO of T-Mobile USA, also based in Bellevue.

Boise, Idaho
This pleasant Idaho town teems with tech talent: large companies with a local presence include Hewlett-Packard's LaserJet division, semiconductor giant Micron Technologies and Microsoft. Local support for entrepreneurs comes from groups such as Kickstand, a six-year-old networking and education organization for small and startup tech firms. Despite its relative isolation, Boise attracts numerous migrants from L.A. and the Bay Area, thanks in part to its quality of life and the low cost of residential and commercial real estate.

Folsom, California
Folsom's tech industry was kickstarted by the arrival of Intel in 1984. These days, the Intel research and design campus is the largest private employer in the city and has inspired a number of spinoffs. The relatively low cost of real estate helps draw techies away from San Francisco and L.A. and into this comfortable suburb of Sacramento. Startups in Folsom are developing technologies ranging from hydrogen fuel cells to wireless communication devices. Funding is available from local tech-investment groups such as Velocity Venture Capital and the Sacramento Angels.

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Photos courtesy of Jonathan Sprague/Redux, Kelvin Kay, Todd Meier, Town of Blacksburg, Lehigh Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Folsom Chamber of Commerce

Original Source: CNN

Also see: Full List from CNN: 100 Best places to live and launch 2008