Ratings and Rankings - Doing Business
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In recent years, Greater St. Louis has earned national recognition as having a favorable business climate with a competitive cost of doing business and a highly skilled work force. See how the business environment in Greater St. Louis recently has been recognized: Cost of Doing Business - St. Louis ranks as the 7th most cost-competitive location to do business among 20 U.S. metros with populations exceeding two million, according to a study by KPMG LLP. KPMG's Competitive Alternatives study, released on March 27, 2008, measured the combined impact of location-sensitive business-operating costs, such as labor, facility, transportation and utility costs, as well as income taxes.
- Forbes magazine ranked St. Louis No. 27 in its ranking of "200 Largest Metro Areas" report for lowest cost of doing business in April 2006, ahead of such cities as Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Denver.
Business Opportunity Metro - The St. Louis region was designated as a "Five Star Business Opportunity Metro" by Expansion Management and Logistics Today magazine in the August 2007 issue. St. Louis ranked No. 23 out of the nation's 362 metropolitan areas and reflects the comparative strength of St. Louis in a number of major categories such as public education, health care cost and availability, quality of life and logistics infrastructure.
- Forbes magazine named St. Louis among its "Best Places For Business and Career" list, ranking St. Louis 67 out of 200 U.S. cities. The rankings, which appeared in the April 23, 2007 issue, are based on business cost, living cost, crime rate, college degrees, income and job growth rate.
- The Dow Jones Market Watch named the St. Louis metro area the 19th "Best City for Business" for 2007. The list was compiled after ranking the nation's 50 biggest cities by number of started, grown, and retained businesses and after interviewing business leaders from each of the cities.
- Forbes ranked St. Louis as one of the "Best Cities for Jobs" in the nation in 2007. The city ranked No. 81 out of 100.
Logistics - St. Louis was named as a "Five-Star Logistics Metro" by Expansion Management magazine, October 2007. The region placed in the 99th percentile, which is the highest possible rating. Expansion Management also ranked St. Louis as having the 5th "Best Interstate Highway Connectivity" and the 5th "Best Railroad Service."
Productivity - According to the 2002 Economic Census, manufacturing workers in St. Louis produce 27 percent more output than the US average. This survey is published in December every five years.
Work Force - Expansion Management magazine named St. Louis as a "Five-Star Knowledge Worker Metro" in the March/April 2007 issue. The study compared college-educated workforce availability across the U.S. and awarded the top 20 percent with this distinction.
- The percentage of St. Louisans with bachelor’s degrees — more than 28 percent — exceeds the national average of 27 percent, according to the American Community Survey 2004.
- Among St. Louis area residents 25 and older, 11 percent have graduate or professional degrees exceeding the U.S. average of 10 percent.
- A 2005 Council on Competitiveness Regional Survey found that the availability of workers with the skills that businesses require was considered a strong regional asset.
Investment St. Louis ranked No. 3 in Site Selection magazine's Top Metropolitan Areas of 2007 in its March 2008 issue. Top metros were identified by the number of successful projects and investment to the region. Chicago, IL and Cleveland, OH took the top two spots.
Taxes & Incentives - Missouri’s tax administration in 2004 ranked among the four most fair in the country in a Council on State Taxation survey.
Small-Business Vitality - St. Louis this year ranked No. 47 out of 91 major metropolitan areas for its small-business vitality, according to American City Business Journals for 2005.
Launching a Business - Lemay, Missouri, located in St. Louis County, ranked as one of the top "100 Best Places to Live and Launch" by Fortune Small Business for 2008, based on the best mix of business advantages and lifestyle appeal.
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