Hidden Gems in the US Tech Market

Albany, NY, had a surprisingly dense tech infrastructure and was one of the top small cities in the US.

CHICAGO—High-tech firms have played an increasingly important role in the US office market, but boom times also bring rising costs, and both start-ups and major players have started hunting for spaces beyond the well-known hubs like Silicon Valley. Chicago-based JLL has just completed a national search which aims to help solve the problem. Its researchers sought out “hidden gems” of the tech world, metro areas that provide high concentrations of talent, but remain far more affordable than the top markets.

“It’s been one of the fastest growing industries over the course of the cycle,” Julia Georgules, vice president and director of research for JLL, tells GlobeSt.com. “Tech has really exploded,” largely due to the 2007 introduction of the iPhone, along with the growth of social media, e-commerce and cloud-based information storage.