Wednesday, May 12, 2004

By MARIAN ACCARDI
Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com

Huntsville has moved to its highest ranking yet - No. 8 - in Forbes magazine's 2004 "Best Places for Business and Careers" feature.

The city has climbed steadily up the rankings, from No. 164 in 2000 to No. 126 in 2001 to No. 71 in 2002 to No. 11 last year.

All the other cities in the top 10 of the sixth annual survey were metro areas larger than Huntsville.

The survey looked into business cost, qualifications of the work force - including the concentration of college graduates and doctorates in the area, job and income growth, migration patterns and crime rates. This year, Forbes added a culture and leisure index to the rankings.

"What Huntsville lacks in size it makes up for in brains: 31 percent of the population has a college degree," the survey noted, adding that the U.S. average is 24 percent.

Defense contracts accounted for 25 percent of the region's nominal gross domestic program in 2002, the highest rate in the nation, according to the survey.

"We've known it for a long time, but now a lot more people know it - Huntsville is a great place to live and work," said Brian Hilson, president and chief executive officer of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. "A place in the top 10 - we're pleased, to say the least.

"This kind of coverage informs and assists those who research business environment and quality of life issues," said Hilson, adding that the chamber will use the ranking directly in image recruitment and development.

"Marketing the community is our chief priority, with economic growth, an expanded work force and a strong quality of life as the ultimate rewards. The nod from Forbes is a great boost to our efforts."

Cities listed as "Best Smaller Metros" were Sioux Falls, S.D.; Fargo, N.D.; Iowa City, Iowa; Lincoln, Neb.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Lawrence, Kan.; Bismarck, N.D.; Rochester, Minn.; State College, Pa.; and Rapid City, S.D.

The rankings appear in the magazine's May 24 edition.

The 2004 survey used an outside economic and financial research firm, Economy.com. For more information, visit www.forbes.com.