Forbes annual ranking of the best U.S. cities for business and careers includes two Colorado cities in the top 10 — Denver and Fort Collins. Reported by The Denver Business Journal this morning.
The Forbes ranking is based on 12 factors tied to jobs, cost of business and cost of living, income growth, quality of life and education of the labor force. Des Moines, Iowa, was judged to be the best city for business and careers. According to Forbes: “Highlights for the Des Moines metro area include business costs that are 17% below the national average and an educated workforce where 36% of the population has a college degree and 92% possess a high school diploma.”
Forbes ranked 200 metro areas.
Denver was ranked No. 6; Fort Collins, No. 7. The other Colorado cities that made the list were Boulder (No. 26), Colorado Springs (No. 44) and Greeley (No. 51).
Here’s how Forbes described Denver: “Denver ‘s relatively central location makes it a natural location as a distribution hub for the American west, while also supporting a number of growing industries in technology and telecommunications. Its location just east of the mineral-rich Rocky Mountain range encouraged mining and energy companies to spring up in the area, making the energy industry another staple of Denver’s economy. Denver is home to many nationally recognized museums, including a new wing for the Denver Art Museum, the second largest performing arts center in the nation after Lincoln Center in New York City and bustling neighborhoods such as LoDo (lower downtown), filled with art galleries, restaurants, bars and clubs. Because of its proximity to the mountains, and generally sunny weather, Denver has gained a reputation as being a very active, outdoor oriented city.”
The complete list, which can be sorted by state, can be viewed here.
