Forbes Ranks Boise No. 3 for B

Forbes ranks Boise No. 3 for business, careers
By Ken Dey - Idaho Statesman
Edition Date: 04/06/07

Boise was named the third-best city in the country for business and careers by Forbes magazine Thursday.
The ranking is a notch higher than last year's fourth-place finish, but still behind the city's No. 1 ranking in 2005.

Forbes recognized Boise for its strong economy, including what the magazine called the area's "minuscule" 2.9 percent unemployment rate in 2006. Forbes noted that the city is home to Micron Technology, which has led the nation in patents.

The annual report ranked 200 metro areas on factors including job and income growth, business and living costs, education of the work force, migration trends, and quality-of-life measures like crime rates and cultural opportunities.

Boise was also listed as the 19th best among the 200 locations for the low business costs.

Mayor Dave Bieter said the Forbes ranking reinforces what residents said in the city's recent citizen survey.

"The city of Boise is moving in the right direction on many fronts," Bieter said in a statement. "Whether it's creating neighborhood libraries or working to prevent sprawl and traffic congestion, the city is committed to the task of making Boise the most livable city in the USA."

The Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce did not immediately return a call for comment.

The top place in this year's ranking was Raleigh, N.C. Provo, Utah, Boise's neighbor to the south, was second.

The only other city in the West to be ranked was Albuquerque, N.M., which was ranked No. 1 last year, but fell to sixth this year.

The magazine said most metropolitan economies in the West have outperformed their peers in the Northeast and the Midwest, but have seen a dramatic increase recently in living costs. The magazine said the Southeast has consistently managed to produce solid economic expansion while keeping costs low.

Forbes will publish its annual list in its April 23 edition.