PRESS RELEASES - JULY 2008

July 17, 2008

Arlington is Among Top 50 U.S. Cities for Business

Arlington and Fort Worth are among the Top 50 Best Cities for Doing Business, according to a national ranking released this week by Inc. Magazine and Newgeography.com.

Together, the two Tarrant County cities moved 94 places from No. 144 in 2007 to the No. 50 spot in 2008.

Dallas, Plano and Irving followed with a No. 57 ranking. The survey includes more than 300 U.S. cities. Its findings were released Tuesday.

Even in an economy that many consider to be in recession, the Dallas/Fort Worth area is thriving, said Arlington Economic Development Manager Robert Sturns.

“This ranking is a testament to the economic strength of the north Texas region,” he said. “Location, proximity to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and a comparative cost of living makes Arlington hard to beat when looking for sites to locate your business."

Mayor Robert Cluck said the findings are signs of economic vitality.

“The findings released this week reflect growth patterns in a variety of industries, and we’re pleased to see our focus on business development in Arlington foster economic gains for the entire region.”

The methodology used to rank the cities includes metropolitan statistical data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau is an independent national statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes and disseminates essential statistical data to the American public, the U.S. Congress, other federal agencies, state and local governments, and businesses.
View the 2008 survey of Best Cities for Doing Business, at www.inc.com/magazine or www.newgeography.com. To learn more about Arlington’s economic development initiatives, visit www.arlingtontx.gov/business.