Even in the worst economic situation since the Carter administration, Forbes magazine often likes to reveal whatever positive sides it can, much like I do. In an article written from expertly executed research campaigns and quotes from successful entrepreneurs, they found the most lucrative and financially prosperous places in the United States to set up residence. They based these findings on four factors: cultural amenities, business friendly environments, knowledgeable and productive workforces and generous salaries.

Joshua Onysko, an entrepreneur and owner of Pangaea Organics, opened his skin care business when he moved to Boulder, Colorado, which he did, aside for the personal benefits, due to the business benefits. The business benefits include a strong venture capital environment, similar start-up businesses all throughout the area, and talented workforce candidates from nearby University of Colorado. While other businesses are contracting, Onysko’s endeavors are expanding. He has reported a 225% increase since 2005 which is still increasing.

Factors that can put an area on this list of profitable areas can include pending and active patents, venture capital funding, self employment businesses, start-ups and small businesses with a high rate per capita. This basically covers anything that displays quality business activity, indicating profitability, success and a desire to live in relative prosperity. This places Boulder, Colorado, at number one on the list.

The basic Miami area, especially Doral and Kendall, Florida, suburbs about 15 miles out, one north, one south, offer a great environment for more active businesses like golf courses and beaches. They also have one of the largest amounts of small businesses in the country per capita, clinching the number two spot and number 25 spot in this list. Following a close third is Fairfax, Virginia, exhibiting one of the best public school systems in the country, a median salary that barely misses a six figure total, a large amount of small corporations, and a main highway that leads right to McLean, Virginia, right outside of Washington D.C. McLean is one of the corporate capitals of the nation due to the presence of Capital One, Bearingpoint, Booz Allen Hamilton, Cardinal Bank, Freddie Mac, Gannett, Mars, MicroStrategy, NVR, Sunrise Senior Living, and USA Today.

Mountain View, Calfornia comes in fourth due to its proximity to San Jose and San Francisco combined with the amount of start up businesses and venture capital. Nearby Cupertino, just east of San Francisco, comes in a close fifth due to much of the same criteria. Coral Gables, Florida (9), Evanston, Illinois (18) and Newton, Massachusetts (6) tend to produce patents, start-ups, and venture capital due to their proximity in relation to major research universities. Santa Fe, New Mexico, though only number 24 on the full list of 25, is unique to the list due to the entertainment venues it provides, with related sole-proprietors and skilled workers. Columbia, Maryland, on the other side of Washington D.C. from Fairfax and 20 minutes from corporate Baltimore, came in at number seven. (Nearby Rockville, North Potomac, Germantown, Silver Spring and Potomac placed 8, 13, 17, 20 and 23, respectively.) As a native of that area of Maryland, this author is aware of the advantages in Columbia and, as an entrepreneur, takes advantage of them. There a lot of small to medium sized businesses in Columbia, Meriweather Post Pavilion, a major music and entertainment venue, and lots of venture capital.

As is made obvious, contrary to the current economic state, there is still a bright side to business and personal finance, especially if you live in California, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, or the mid-atlantic region (Maryland and Virginia) of the country. The bottom line of these findings are easy to decipher. Any business can still succeed, even if a drastic measure like locational placement change must occur, and with strong business centers in nearly every portion of the country, the economy still has a strong core.

Since all locations were not listed, here is the full list:

25. Kendall, Florida- A southern suburb of Miami, parallel to Key Biscayne

24. Santa Fe, New Mexico- Northern New Mexico, northern part of the state

23. Potomac, Maryland- Just on the Maryland side of D.C.

22. Sugar Land, Texas- A southwest suburb of Houston

21. Tustin, California- South of Los Angeles and east of Long Beach

20. Silver Spring, Maryland- A Washington D.C. suburb, nearly directly inside the border

19. Davis, California – Between Sacramento and the Bay area

18. Evanston, Illinois – North of Chicago, on the shore of Lake Michigan

17. Germantown, Maryland- A northwest suburb of D.C.

16. Aliso Viejo, California- Between Laguna Beach and Laguna Hills

15. Sandy Springs, Georgia- A suburb north of Atlanta

14. Santa Monica, California- North of Los Angeles, on the beach

13. North Potomac, Maryland- Farther out than Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac

12. Hillsborough, California, north of San Francisco and San Jose

11. Bellmont, California- South of Hillsborough, right between S.F. and S.J.

10. Foster City, California- South of San Francisco

9. Coral Gables, Florida- A southwest suburb of Miami

8. Rockville, Maryland- Another D.C. suburb but farther inside Maryland

7. Columbia, Maryland- Directly between Baltimore and D.C.

6. Newton, Massachusetts- A suburb west of Boston

5. Cupertino, California- South of San Francisco and west of San Jose

4. Mountain View, California- South of Palo Alto on the bay peninsula

3. Fairfax, Virginia- A western D.C. suburb

2. Doral, Florida- Another Miami suburb

1. Boulder, Colorado- Northwest of Denver, in the mountains

So why can’t the Big 3 handle it?

He puts part of the blame on The United Auto Workers union and their chief Ron Gettelfinger. First, the Honda/Toyota plants don’t have the same unions, so they don’t have to deal with the strikes. Second, “job banks” where some employees are paid 95 percent of their wages to sit. Third, Gettelfinger is hesitant to concede to a lot of changes for a bailout. This is a problem because Honda just hired 900 new employees, and they are being paid $18.41 an hour. The UAW employees are being paid $29 plus benefits. Economist Peter Morici of the University of Maryland said ,”The wage package is just too rich in Detroit, the benefits package is just too rich and the cars show it. The upholstery is not as nice. Why? Because they have to pay these high labor costs so they use cheaper materials.”

ABC News: Why the Auto Bailout Would Be a Big Mistake