-
Introduction
-
- Rank
- City/MSA
- State
- Population
-
- 1.
- Columbus
- IN
- 76,794
-
- Ranking 1st among the 100 Leading
Locations overall, the small Indiana city of
Columbus also led Area Development's Top 20
Midwest Cities and Top 25 Small Cities rankings. Among small cities, Columbus
placed 3rd in "Economic Strength" factors,
4th in "Prime Workforce Growth," and 5th
for its "Recession-Busting" indicators.
Columbus is the headquarters of Fortune 500 diesel engine and power generator maker Cummins Inc., which employs more than 7,000 locally. Japanese driveshaft manufacturer NTN employs 1,700 in Columbus, auto emission control and exhaust systems maker Faurecia maintains production and North American R&D there, and Dorel Juvenile Group makes child safety seats and handles R&D in Columbus. The city has averaged one corporate expansion announcement a month since 2010, creating 1,840 jobs, and current employment figures there are the thirdhighest on record. Columbus had the nation's 4th-highest GDP growth in 2010 (the most recent figures available), and though it's a one-county MSA with a population of about 77,000, its GDP is greater than that of 37 countries.
Among the significant 2011 headlines, Japanese auto components maker Sunright America announced plans to create 100 jobs, and Cummins announced an $18 million investment with 600 new jobs at its headquarters and tech center. Columbus was recognized in February by the Christian Science Monitor as the "top city for job growth," the AARP last fall put it among the top 10 "Affordable Cities," and its strong collection of prominent architecture ranks 6th in the United States (the top five cities with strong collections of prominent architecture are much larger).
- Ranking 1st among the 100 Leading
Locations overall, the small Indiana city of
Columbus also led Area Development's Top 20
Midwest Cities and Top 25 Small Cities rankings. Among small cities, Columbus
placed 3rd in "Economic Strength" factors,
4th in "Prime Workforce Growth," and 5th
for its "Recession-Busting" indicators.
-
- 2.
- Odessa
- TX
- 137,130
-
- Odessa tops the list of Area Development's Top 20 Southwest Cities. The city also
placed 2nd among the Top 25 Small Cities in "Economic Strength" and 3rd in
"Recession-Busting" factors, and 2nd among
the Top 50 Small Cities overall.
An oil boom is presently fueling local employment, filling jobs not just in energy but also across the economy, including in construction, hospitality, and business services. Some local companies have even set up "man camps" to house laborers, and in nearby Midland, major local employers and the city are considering going together on an apartment complex to meet the demand for housing. Unemployment is down to just above 4 percent, and building permits in 2012 topped $100 million by May.
An array of investments dots the Odessa area map. One of the biggest is the Texas Clean Energy Project, worth more than $2 billion in investment, 1,500 construction jobs, and 200 high-paying operations positions. Given the way this boom is attracting residents, it's no surprise that projects also include everything from housing to churches to restaurants.
- Odessa tops the list of Area Development's Top 20 Southwest Cities. The city also
placed 2nd among the Top 25 Small Cities in "Economic Strength" and 3rd in
"Recession-Busting" factors, and 2nd among
the Top 50 Small Cities overall.
-
- 3.
- Lafayette
- LA
- 273,738
-
- No. 1 among the Top 20 Southern Cities and 3rd overall among Area Development's 100
Leading Locations was Lafayette, Louisiana.
It topped the "Economic Strength" indicators
among the Top-25 Mid-Size Cities,
and was 3rd among this same group for its
"Recession-Busting" factors.
It's home to the University of Louisiana- Lafayette, plus numerous significant players in oil and gas. Lafayette Parish has seen $1.3 billion in business investments since 2005, and 2011 was its best year ever, with more than $330 million invested and 2,700 jobs created. Among the many headlines, Halliburton last year picked Lafayette for a 150 job, $65 million plant to produce components for oilfield service operations.
The city is accustomed to accolades, being named Forbes' "Best Mid-Sized City for Jobs" in 2012. Sentier Research this year reported that the Lafayette MSA had the fastestgrowing income among all U.S. metro areas, and its jobless rate under 5 percent this spring was the lowest in Louisiana. It also was Southern Living's 2012 "Tastiest Town in the South" and the "Best Small Town for Food" in the 2011 Rand McNally/USA Today"Best of the Road" rankings.
- No. 1 among the Top 20 Southern Cities and 3rd overall among Area Development's 100
Leading Locations was Lafayette, Louisiana.
It topped the "Economic Strength" indicators
among the Top-25 Mid-Size Cities,
and was 3rd among this same group for its
"Recession-Busting" factors.
-
- 4.
- Bismarck
- ND
- 108,779
-
- 5.
- Fargo
- ND-MN
- 208,777
-
- 6.
- Midland
- TX
- 136,872
-
- 7.
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
- CA
- 1,836,911
-
- 8.
- Casper
- WY
- 75,450
-
- 9.
- Morgantown
- WV
- 129,709
-
- 10.
- Columbia
- MO
- 172,786
-
- Columbia placed 2nd in the Top 20
Midwest Cities, with solid performance in
most of the metrics studied. It also ranked
2nd among the Top 25 Mid-Size Cities for
its "Recession-Busting" indicators, and 5th
for its "Economic Strength" factors among
this group. Employment numbers were
respectable throughout the recent recession
and really took off in the past year. The city
has maintained a jobless rate well below the
state average for years.
It's the ultimate college town, home not only to the flagship campus of University of Missouri but also to Stephens College and Columbia College, plus campuses of a few more institutions. Major industrial sectors include life sciences, human and animal health, and information technology. Two significant insurance operations also employ more than a thousand people apiece.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs maintains a large presence in Columbia, and the veteran-focused sector also includes the VA Mortgage Center, which last year landed state incentives to support the addition of as many as 300 jobs.
- Columbia placed 2nd in the Top 20
Midwest Cities, with solid performance in
most of the metrics studied. It also ranked
2nd among the Top 25 Mid-Size Cities for
its "Recession-Busting" indicators, and 5th
for its "Economic Strength" factors among
this group. Employment numbers were
respectable throughout the recent recession
and really took off in the past year. The city
has maintained a jobless rate well below the
state average for years.
-
- 11.
- Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
- TX
- 1,716,289
-
- 12.
- Pittsburgh
- PA
- 2,356,285
-
- 13.
- Oklahoma City
- OK
- 1,252,987
-
- Oklahoma City is a solid "Recession
Buster," ranking 4th among the Top 25 Big
Cities in those factors and also 4th in
"Prime Workforce Growth" and 6th in
"Economic Strength" factors among this
same group of MSAs. It also placed 4th
among Area Development's Top 20 Southwest
Cities as well as among its Top 50 Big
Cities overall.
That's no surprise to national economic observers: Garner Economics this year reported Oklahoma City had the highest annual earnings growth rate among large metro areas; Business Journals ranked it the 3rd "Best City for Small Business"; Forbes called it the 4th "Best City for Jobs"; and KPMG ranked it the nation's "Most Cost- Effective City." And in The Wall Street Journal, Thumbtack.com said the area is No. 1 in overall regulatory friendliness.
Education, energy, and the military are among top local employers: examples include Tinker Air Force Base, the University of Oklahoma, the Federal Aviation Administration's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Chesapeake Energy Corp., and OG&E Energy Corp. Since 2006, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber has helped new and expanding businesses invest $459 million and create 32,490 jobs. Among many headlines, Boeing in 2010 and 2011 announced plans to relocate military and government support operations from elsewhere, adding more than 1,300 jobs, and Devon Energy Corp. is building a 50-story headquarters that will house 2,600 employees.
- Oklahoma City is a solid "Recession
Buster," ranking 4th among the Top 25 Big
Cities in those factors and also 4th in
"Prime Workforce Growth" and 6th in
"Economic Strength" factors among this
same group of MSAs. It also placed 4th
among Area Development's Top 20 Southwest
Cities as well as among its Top 50 Big
Cities overall.
-
- 14.
- Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville
- SC
- 664,607
-
- Ranking 2nd among Area Development's Top 20 South-Atlantic Cities was the
Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville
MSA, earning its place on the strength of a 2nd place showing in "Recession-Busting"
indicators, 5th place ranking in "Prime
Workforce Growth," and 9th place ranking
in "Economic Strength" factors among the Top 25 Big Cities. The MSA ranked 21st
among the 100 Leading Locations for its
employment growth net 3-year change.
From mid-2009 through mid-2011, the area landed $1.4 billion in new capital investment and nearly 5,500 new jobs. In May, The Brookings Institution ranked Charleston first in the nation in manufacturing job growth. The MSA's new Boeing assembly plant recently marked the first 787 Dreamliner flight from South Carolina; the plant will ultimately create more than 4,000 direct jobs. Another 200 jobs are on the way at an $85 million power cable plant planned by French manufacturer Nexans. Top local employers beyond Boeing include Google, Daimler, BAE Systems, Robert Bosch, Force Protection, Blackbaud, and Lockheed Martin.
Forbes placed Charleston 5th among midsized metro areas on its "Best Cities for Jobs" listing in May; in 2011, The Wall Street Journal named it tops in the nation for growth in college degrees, and last year CNN listed it 3rd among the "World's Best Cities."
- Ranking 2nd among Area Development's Top 20 South-Atlantic Cities was the
Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville
MSA, earning its place on the strength of a 2nd place showing in "Recession-Busting"
indicators, 5th place ranking in "Prime
Workforce Growth," and 9th place ranking
in "Economic Strength" factors among the Top 25 Big Cities. The MSA ranked 21st
among the 100 Leading Locations for its
employment growth net 3-year change.
-
- 15.
- Nashville-Davidson-
Murfreesboro-Franklin - TN
- 1,589,934
-
- 16.
- Dubuque
- IA
- 93,653
-
- 17.
- Manhattan
- KS
- 127,081
-
- 18.
- Knoxville
- TN
- 698,030
-
- 19.
- State College
- PA
- 153,990
-
- 20.
- Trenton-Ewing
- NJ
- 366,513
-
- 21.
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
- DC-VA-
MD-WV - 5,582,170
-
- 22.
- Longview
- TX
- 214,369
-
- 23.
- Boston-Cambridge-Quincy
- MA-NH
- 4,552,402
-
- 24.
- Holland-Grand Haven
- MI
- 263,801
-
- 25.
- Owensboro
- KY
- 114,752
-
- Owensboro placed 4th on Area
Development's Top 20 Southern Cities, with a
9th place ranking for its
"Recession Busting" factors
among the Top 25 Small
Cities. Its three-year employment
growth as a percentage
of population was 23rd-best
among all of the 100 Leading
Locations.
Helping Owensboro prosper is a diversified economy, as evidenced by announcements from both the tobacco and financial sectors: Pinkerton Tobacco and U.S. Bank are investing in the MSA. Other major employers (in addition to the local health system) include a Unilever Foods pasta sauce plant, a Specialty Foods Group meat-processing plant, and transportation manufacturers Toyotetsu MidAmerica and Metalsa. Four institutions of higher education serve the area, and even as the nation trudged through recession, the community's eMerging Ventures Center for Innovation was nurturing two dozen startups, winning $50 million in investments, and creating 70 jobs with pay averaging nearly $100,000.
The New York Times last year spotlighted Owenboro's downtown revitalization; New Geography placed it 22nd among its "Best Small Cities for Job Growth in 2012," and Bloomberg BusinessWeek called it the "state's best place to raise kids."
- Owensboro placed 4th on Area
Development's Top 20 Southern Cities, with a
9th place ranking for its
"Recession Busting" factors
among the Top 25 Small
Cities. Its three-year employment
growth as a percentage
of population was 23rd-best
among all of the 100 Leading
Locations.
- Next: Leading Locations for 2012 - MSAs Ranked 26-50
It's certainly not news that times have been tough across America's cities in recent years. The Great Recession may be officially over, but many communities are still suffering a painful hangover.
This analysis of Leading Locations is informed by two dozen different economic and workforce indicators from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. It ranks the 365 MSAs in a variety of ways, including an overall ranking that crunches 23 indicators, plus separate rankings of "Prime Workforce Growth," "Economic Strength," and "Recession-Busting" factors. What general conclusions can be drawn?
The truth is, there are myriad explanations for why these MSAs have fared the way they have. But take a look at the top performers overall and you'll see a lot of locations closer to the nation's midsection than the coasts - Indiana, Texas, North Dakota, Wyoming, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, to name a few. That generally holds true among the top locations in the three factors lists as well.
Otherwise, though, these top locations advanced for a variety of reasons. Some of the locations highest on the list are experiencing explosive growth in extraction of energy from shale or from the Gulf of Mexico. Green energy developments are fueling growth elsewhere. Other communities are benefiting from the "comeback" of U.S. manufacturing and the presence of major employers that have cracked the puzzle of exporting to those parts of the world where growth remains hot. Still others have top employers cashing in on life sciences or technology innovations. More than likely these locations are home to universities providing a young, prime work force and technology-transfer skills.
Read on to see the Top 100 MSAs ranked based on overall results, as well as for a closer look at a dozen locations whose recent economic successes we chose to highlight...
-
- Rank
- City/MSA
- State
- Population
-
- 26.
- Salt Lake City
- UT
- 1,124,197
-
- 27.
- Cheyenne
- WY
- 91,738
-
- Ranked 3rd among the Top 10 Mountain
Cities was Cheyenne, which also placed
11th among the Top 50 Small Cities and
12th among the Top 25 Small Cities for its
"Economic Strength" factors.
The area has been a magnet for high-tech developments, including a recent announcement of a $112 million Microsoft data center, a $70 million National Center for Atmospheric Research Supercomputing Center, and data centers from EchoStar Broadcasting Corp. and Green House Data. Also making headlines in 2012 was a $40 million wind tower plant.
Forbes in 2012 listed Cheyenne among the top places to retire and to work, Kiplinger ranked it 3rd "Most Tax-Friendly City," and the American Lung Association listed it as the nation's cleanest metropolitan area in terms of 24-hour particle pollution. It has landed among the "Top Places to Raise a Family" as ranked by both Forbes and Children's Health magazines.
- Ranked 3rd among the Top 10 Mountain
Cities was Cheyenne, which also placed
11th among the Top 50 Small Cities and
12th among the Top 25 Small Cities for its
"Economic Strength" factors.
-
- 28.
- Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown
- TX
- 5,946,800
-
- 29.
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls
- IA
- 167,819
-
- 30.
- Ames
- IA
- 89,542
-
- The Iowa community of Ames ranked 6th
among Area Development's Top 20 Midwest
Cities and 30th among the 100 Leading
Locations. Ames placed 15th for its "Prime
Workforce Growth" among the Top 25
Small Cities.
Iowa State University is the top employer in Ames and also a prime draw for investment. The Iowa Department of Transportation supports numerous jobs, as do local healthcare providers and the federal government's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, while the manufacturing sector is represented by such names as Sauer-Danfoss, 3M, Becker Underwood, and Barilla.
Relocating and expanding businesses have invested $200 million and created 1,000 jobs in the past five years. TheAtlanticCities.com this year named Ames the 25th "Best Place for New College Grads," while Where to Retire ranked it the 8th "Best Place to Retire." It was NewGeography.com's 56th "Best Small City for Job Growth" in 2012, and the tech sector will note that in 2011 Forbes ranked Ames 13th among the country's "Geekiest Cities."
- The Iowa community of Ames ranked 6th
among Area Development's Top 20 Midwest
Cities and 30th among the 100 Leading
Locations. Ames placed 15th for its "Prime
Workforce Growth" among the Top 25
Small Cities.
-
- 31.
- San Angelo
- TX
- 111,823
-
- 32.
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
- TX
- 6,371,773
-
- 33.
- Baltimore-Towson
- MD
- 2,710,489
-
- 34.
- Williamsport
- PA
- 116,111
-
- 35.
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
- OR-WA
- 2,226,009
-
- 36.
- Denver-Aurora-Broomfield
- CO
- 2,543,482
-
- 37.
- Sandusky
- OH
- 77,079
-
- 38.
- Ann Arbor
- MI
- 344,791
-
- 39.
- Jefferson City
- MO
- 149,807
-
- 40.
- Tyler
- TX
- 209,714
-
- 41.
- Laredo
- TX
- 250,304
-
- 42.
- Lubbock
- TX
- 284,890
-
- 43.
- Charlottesville
- VA
- 201,559
-
- 44.
- San Antonio-New Braunfels
- TX
- 2,142,508
-
- Over the past five years, San Antonio has
added more than 36,000 jobs. The MSA
ranked 13th among the Top 25 Big Cities in
"Economic Strength" factors and was 12th
among the Top 20 Southwest Cities.
San Antonio was in the top 10 when The Wall Street Journal ranked the nation's "Best Cities for Business" last year, thanks to its long-term growth in economic output, decades' worth of job growth, and strong gains in personal income. Forbes, meanwhile, recently called it the "9th Happiest City for Jobs."
Multiple sectors fuel the area's job growth. The bioscience sector recently got a boost when it landed headquarters and manufacturing facilities of Xenex Healthcare Services, and the automotive sector cheered when EControls reaffirmed its local commitment by moving to a larger facility and promising up to 150 new jobs. Top local employers include the U.S. military, along with military financial services giant USAA, Cullen/Frost Bankers, and Valero Energy. Additionally, among the MSA's many local headquarters are the H-E-B supermarket chain and the tasty Bill Miller Bar-B-Q chain.
- Over the past five years, San Antonio has
added more than 36,000 jobs. The MSA
ranked 13th among the Top 25 Big Cities in
"Economic Strength" factors and was 12th
among the Top 20 Southwest Cities.
-
- 45.
- Elizabethtown
- KY
- 119,73
-
- 46.
- Lincoln
- NE
- 302,157
-
- 47.
- Amarillo
- TX
- 249,881
-
- 48.
- Columbus
- OH
- 1,836,536
-
- 49.
- Buffalo-Niagara Falls
- NY
- 1,135,509
-
- Ranking 7th among Area Development's Top 20 Mid-Atlantic Cities, the Buffalo-
Niagara Falls MSA mixes strong business
growth with enviable quality-of-life factors.
It placed 12th among the Top 25 Big Cities in "Economic Strength" indicators and 9th
among that grouping for its "Recession-
Busting" factors. The area recorded 5,400
new jobs in the last three years, more than
all but 38 of the other 365 MSAs studied
during a stretch when many places saw
their employment rosters shrink.
Prized for a low cost of doing business, Buffalo also placed 2nd on Forbes' 2011 ranking of most affordable American cities. It has been spotlighted as one of the country's cleanest cities, one of the best places for commuters, a top arts destination, and a high-ranking place for working mothers.
Beyond the thousands who work at area healthcare providers and financial institutions, there's a strong manufacturing sector that includes Moog Inc., maker of precisioncontrol components and defense systems, and the General Motors' Tonawanda Engine Plant, which is recalling workers, reopening lines, and creating a new on-site training center. Also, in 2011, Computer Task Group announced plans to create 100 jobs in Buffalo. In all, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise has welcomed $3.1 billion in investments and more than 37,000 new jobs since 2000.
- Ranking 7th among Area Development's Top 20 Mid-Atlantic Cities, the Buffalo-
Niagara Falls MSA mixes strong business
growth with enviable quality-of-life factors.
It placed 12th among the Top 25 Big Cities in "Economic Strength" indicators and 9th
among that grouping for its "Recession-
Busting" factors. The area recorded 5,400
new jobs in the last three years, more than
all but 38 of the other 365 MSAs studied
during a stretch when many places saw
their employment rosters shrink.
-
- 50.
- Fayetteville
- NC
- 366,383
-
- In the 4th spot among Area Development's Top 20 South-Atlantic Cities was
Fayetteville, which also placed 15th overall
among the Top 50 Mid-Size Cities and 4th
for its "Prime Workforce Growth" among
the Top 25 Mid-Size Cities. The city's
three-year and five-year employment
change remained in positive territory
through the recession, a feat envied by
many American cities. Fayetteville also was
14th among the Top 25 Mid-Size Cities for
its "Economic Strength" indicators.
Since 2000, Fayetteville's industrial sector recorded investments totaling more than $850 million and creating nearly 6,000 jobs. The healthcare business remains quite robust, with the announcement this spring of a 1,200-job facility by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Fayetteville business scene is diverse, with such headquarters as M.J. Soffe, Union Corrugating, Nitta Gelatin, OmniSource, Morty Pride, and Hercules Steel, plus operations representing everything from Goodyear Tire and Rubber to Maidenform to Northrop Grumman to DuPont, which has continued to invest in its Fayetteville operations.
According to Fayetteville's chamber, recent rankings have placed the community among the top-five defense industry locations, 2nd highest in the state in per capita income, among the nation's top-five most affordable housing markets, and among Manpower's top national job markets.
- In the 4th spot among Area Development's Top 20 South-Atlantic Cities was
Fayetteville, which also placed 15th overall
among the Top 50 Mid-Size Cities and 4th
for its "Prime Workforce Growth" among
the Top 25 Mid-Size Cities. The city's
three-year and five-year employment
change remained in positive territory
through the recession, a feat envied by
many American cities. Fayetteville also was
14th among the Top 25 Mid-Size Cities for
its "Economic Strength" indicators.
- Next: Leading Locations for 2012 - MSAs Ranked 51-100
LEADING LOCATIONS FOR 2012 RESOURCES
-
- Rank
- City/MSA
- State
- Population
-
- 51.
- Fort Wayne
- IN
- 416,257
-
- 52.
- Durham-Chapel Hill
- NC
- 504,357
-
- 53.
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy
- NY
- 870,716
-
- 54
- Corpus Christi
- TX
- 428,185
-
- 55.
- Burlington-South Burlington
- VT
- 211,261
-
- 56.
- St. Joseph
- MO-KS
- 127,329
-
- 57.
- Ogden-Clearfield
- UT
- 547,184
-
- 57. t
- Grand Rapids-Wyoming
- MI
- 774,160
-
- 59.
- Oshkosh-Neenah
- WI
- 166,994
-
- 60.
- Sioux Falls
- SD
- 228,261
-
- 61.
- Eau Claire
- WI
- 161,151
-
- 62.
- Corvallis
- OR
- 85,579
-
- 63.
- Des Moines-West Des Moines
- IA
- 569,633
-
- 64.
- Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford
- VA
- 162,958
-
- This MSA - located in Montgomery
County, Va. - ranked 6th among Area
Development's Top 20 South-
Atlantic Cities. Specifically it
ranked 5th for Employment
Growth (net one-year change
as percentage of population)
and 48th for 2010 work force
18-44 with BA degree or
higher (as percentage of total
work force). The county is
home to internationally
renowned Virginia Tech.
In confirmation of our rankings, in 2009, Forbes named the Blacksburg metro 31st on its list of the "Best Small Places for Business and Careers," and 14th on its list of "America's Most Educated Small Towns."
Since 2000, relocating or expanding businesses have invested more than $265 million and created more than 4,600 jobs in Montgomery County, Va. In October 2011, outdoor retailer Backcountry.com announced plans to invest over $20 million to establish a fulfillment center in the county that will create more than 200 new jobs*, and in March of 2011, Modea, a designer of product-focused media, said it would place its headquarters in the county, creating 200 jobs, and in March of 2011, Modea, a designer of product-focused media, said it would place its headquarters in the county, creating 200 jobs.
- This MSA - located in Montgomery
County, Va. - ranked 6th among Area
Development's Top 20 South-
Atlantic Cities. Specifically it
ranked 5th for Employment
Growth (net one-year change
as percentage of population)
and 48th for 2010 work force
18-44 with BA degree or
higher (as percentage of total
work force). The county is
home to internationally
renowned Virginia Tech.
-
- 65.
- Logan
- UT-ID
- 125,442
-
- 66.
- Rochester
- MN
- 186,011
-
- 66. t
- New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner
- LA
- 1,167,764
-
- 68.
- Chattanooga
- TN-GA
- 528,143
-
- Placing 7th on the list of Area
Development's Top 20 Southern Cities,
Chattanooga ranked 22nd among the Top
25 Mid-Size Cities in "Recession-Busting"
factors. And bust the recession it has, with
new investments over the past five years
from Amazon to Volkswagen. Last year, VW
opened its billion-dollar plant there, and this
spring the company announced the hiring of
800 more people. In all, VW and others
such as Alstom, Sanofi-Aventis, and Amazon.com dropped about
$3 billion into the
Chattanooga economy during
the recent recession.
Journalists and analysts have also spotlighted the community's pluses. Outside Magazine named Chattanooga the "Best Town Ever" this year, and CNNMoney.com put it on the list of "8 Cities That Want Your Business." Forbes named Chattanooga as one of the top 10 cities where home values were expected to rise in 2011, and last year Where to Retire profiled Chattanooga as a "Top Retirement Town."
- Placing 7th on the list of Area
Development's Top 20 Southern Cities,
Chattanooga ranked 22nd among the Top
25 Mid-Size Cities in "Recession-Busting"
factors. And bust the recession it has, with
new investments over the past five years
from Amazon to Volkswagen. Last year, VW
opened its billion-dollar plant there, and this
spring the company announced the hiring of
800 more people. In all, VW and others
such as Alstom, Sanofi-Aventis, and Amazon.com dropped about
$3 billion into the
Chattanooga economy during
the recent recession.
-
- 69.
- Greenville-Mauldin-Easley
- SC
- 636,986
-
- 70.
- Toledo
- OH
- 651,429
-
- 71.
- Boulder
- CO
- 294,567
-
- 72.
- Rapid City
- SD
- 126,382
-
- 73.
- Columbus
- GA-AL
- 294,865
-
- 74.
- College Station-Bryan
- TX
- 228,660
-
- 75.
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
- AR-MO
- 463,204
-
- 76.
- Kennewick-Pasco-Richland
- WA
- 253,340
-
- This part of Washington State placed 5th
among the Top 25 Mid-Size Cities in
"Prime Workforce Growth" and 10th among
this same group of cities for its strong
"Recession-Busting" indicators. The so-called
"Tri-Cities" also placed 4th overall among Area Development's Top 10 Pacific Cities.
On the surface, the Tri-Cities seem almost laid back, with stunning scenery, 300-plus days of sunshine a year, and most of Washington's highly regarded, $3 billion wine business. However, amid that science and technology thrive, led in terms of employee count by the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and DOE contractors such as CH2M Hill Hanford Group, Bechtel National, Mission Support Alliance, and Washington River Protection Solutions. ConAgra Foods, meanwhile, processes frozen potatoes in the area, and Tyson Foods has a meat-processing operation there.
- This part of Washington State placed 5th
among the Top 25 Mid-Size Cities in
"Prime Workforce Growth" and 10th among
this same group of cities for its strong
"Recession-Busting" indicators. The so-called
"Tri-Cities" also placed 4th overall among Area Development's Top 10 Pacific Cities.
-
- 77.
- Duluth
- MN-WI
- 279,771
-
- 78.
- Peoria
- IL
- 379,186
-
- 79.
- Lewiston
- ID-WA
- 60,888
-
- 80.
- Fairbanks
- AK
- 97,581
-
- 81.
- Barnstable Town
- MA
- 215,888
-
- 82.
- Raleigh-Cary
- NC
- 1,130,490
-
- 83.
- Cumberland
- MD-WV
- 103,299
-
- 84.
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton
- PA-NJ
- 821,173
-
- 85.
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
- MN-WISD
- 3,317,308
-
- 86.
- Ocean City
- NJ
- 97,265
-
- 87.
- Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
- FL
- 180,822
-
- 88.
- Appleton
- WI
- 225,666
-
- 89.
- El Paso
- TX
- 800,647
-
- 90.
- Iowa City
- IA
- 152,586
-
- 91.
- Lafayette
- IN
- 201,789
-
- 92.
- Florence-Muscle Shoals
- AL
- 147,137
-
- 93.
- Tulsa
- OK
- 937,478
-
- 93. t
- Louisville/Jefferson County
- KY-IN
- 1,307,647
-
- 95.
- La Crosse
- WI-MN
- 133,665
-
- 96.
- Lansing-East Lansing
- MI
- 464,036
-
- 97.
- Winchester
- VA-WV
- 128,472
-
- 98.
- Bay City
- MI
- 107,771
-
- 99.
- Lawton
- OK
- 124,098
-
- 100.
- Hinesville-Fort Stewart
- GA
- 77,917