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Small Business & Entrepreneurship Transportation & Infrastructure
Three Metro MSP Companies Named to Ethisphere’s “Most Ethical” List (2008) Three Metro MSP companies rank among the world’s most ethical companies, according to the national business magazine, Ethisphere. The companies are Saint Paul-based Ecolab, Golden Valley-based General Mills, and Blaine-based Aveda. Ethisphere’s annual ranking considers nine areas that impact ethical practices: governance, innovation, executive leadership, industry leadership, perception and reputation, transparency, legal and regulatory, internal systems, and citizenship. Twin Cities Metro Area Economy Ranks Among the Nation’s Strongest, Says POLICOM (2008) The Twin Cities metro area has the 19th strongest economy in the nation, says POLICOM, an independent economic research firm that publishes an annual Economic Strength Ranking. The 2008 ranking puts the Twin Cities’ economy among the country’s top 5%. POLICOM bases its findings on 23 economic factors drawn from a 20-year period. It defines “economic strength” as the long-term tendency of an area to consistently grow in both size and quality. The Twin Cities has ranked among the top 20 MSAs for the last five years. Fortune Small Business Lists Minneapolis Among “100 Best Places to Live and Launch” (2008) Fortune Small Business scoured the country for cities that combined a great business environment with alluring leisure offerings. Three Minnesota cities made the cut: Minneapolis (23rd), Rochester (53rd) and St. Cloud (75th). The magazine considered economic conditions as well as natural beauty and access to arts and recreation. General Mills Makes Fortune’s List of “100 Best Companies to Work For” (2008) Fortune magazine named General Mills to its “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for 2008. The list, compiled by the San Francisco-based Great Place to Work Institute, ranked the Golden Valley manufacturer 69th, the same spot as 2007. It has made the list for six years. A total of 16 Midwest companies were on the list. Seven Metro MSP Corporations Make Fortune’s “Global 500” List (2007) Seven Metro MSP corporations consistently make Fortune’s “Global 500” list, based on annual revenues. They are UnitedHealth Group, Target, Best Buy, SuperValu, Travelers, 3M and US Bancorp. MarketWatch Names Twin Cites Best Metro Area for Business (2007) The Twin Cities tops the list of the nation’s best metro centers for business in a 2007 MarketWatch special report. The region won by a wide margin, placing 38 points ahead of second-place Denver. A healthy collection of companies put Minneapolis-Saint Paul near the top in many categories. The region also proved resilient in keeping its jobless rate low. The report compared 50 metro regions in eight different objective metrics. Twin Cities Has Second Highest Concentration of Fortune 1000 and S&P 500 Companies (2007) A 2007 MarketWatch special report ranks the Twin Cities metro second in concentration of both Fortune 1000 and S&P 500 companies. The region is home to 32 Fortune giants and 15 S&P 500 firms. “The lists are a who’s who of corporate America, including discount retailer Target Corp., health insurance leader UnitedHealth Group, industrial conglomerate 3M, and food manufacturer General Mills.” Twin Cities Named “Fifth Top Metro” by Site Selection (2007) The Twin Cities MSA is the fifth top metro area in the country, based on the number of corporate facility projects completed in 2007. That’s high praise, given that it ranks only 16th in population. A total of 74 corporate expansions or building projects costing over $1 million each occurred in 2007. The ranking was announced in the March 2008 issue of Site Selection magazine. Minnesota Ranks Ninth in Number of Fortune 500 Headquarters (2007) Minnesota’s dynamic economy has attracted 20 Fortune 500 headquarters – six of which relocated to the state in the last seven years. Minnesota also is home to 34 Fortune 1,000 companies, 11 of the largest private companies in the country, and nearly 20 of America’s fastest growing private companies, according Compare Minnesota. Site Selection Names Minnesota the Midwest Leader in New Corporate Facilities and Expansions (2007) Minnesota consistently appears in the top tier of American states recognized by Site Selection magazine for the economic vigor of its new and expanding corporate facilities. In 2007, Minnesota finished first overall among Midwest regional states, including the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. It placed 15th nationwide. Twin Cities Ranks Fifth in Business Climate Among Large Metros by Site Selection (2007) Site Selection magazine ranks the Twin Cites metro area fifth among metro areas with populations over one million in its annual state business climate analysis, published in 2007. Scores are based equally on two sources: a survey of corporate real estate decision makers, and data on actual project activity. Minnesota Earned Straight A’s in Vitality on Development Report Card (2006) The Corporation for Enterprise Development gave Minnesota straight A’s in three areas – vitality of its businesses, performance of its economy, and positioning for future economic growth – on its 2006 Development Report Card. Minnesota was only one of two states to earn a perfect score. It also earned high marks for development capacity. Forbes Ranked Minnesota 14th Best State for Business (2006) Forbes’ annual “Best State for Business” ranking placed Minnesota 14 out of 50 states. It considered such indicators as business cost, regulatory environment and quality of life. Minnesota ranked particularly high in quality of life (third) and labor (14th). Metro MSP Region Ranked Second in Business Expansion Opportunities (2006) For the second year straight, the region ranked second in the nation for future business expansion by Expansion Management magazine. The 2006 ranking looked at business climate and attractiveness to growing companies. It was based on an evaluation of every metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the U.S.
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Metro MSP Boasts Fourth Highest Concentration of Small Businesses (2007) The Twin Cities region “has more small businesses per capita than just about any other city,” according to a 2007 MarketWatch special report. The region is fourth nationally in concentration of small businesses, defined as companies with fewer than 500 employees. Twin Cities Makes List of “Ten Best Metro Areas for Small Business” for Two Years Straight (2007) American City Business Journals named the Twin Cities among the ten best metro areas in the nation for small business in 2006 and 2007. Entrepreneur Magazine Ranked Twin Cities Among “Best Places to Operate a Small Business” (2006) Entrepreneur ranked the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metro area 38th out of 50 large metro areas, based on business formation and growth. Rankings assessed firms started four to 14 years ago that continue to employ at least five people and have experienced rapid growth over the last four years.
Two Metro MSP Companies Rank Among “World’s Most Innovative” (2008) Maplewood-based 3M and Minneapolis-based Target are on BusinessWeek’s top 25 list of the world’s most innovative companies. The selection was based on such criteria as three-year revenue, margin growth and stock returns. The selection panel cited 3M’s significant R & D investment, and Target’s growing distinction as an upscale, trendy discounter as evidence of laudable innovation. Minnesota Ranks Third in Global Patents, Reports Kauffman Foundation (2007) When it comes to investing in – and protecting – new technology for global markets, Minnesota is one of the most innovative states in the country, according to a study published in November 2007 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The study tracked the number of international patents applications per 100,000 workers from 1998 through 2006. Minnesota ranked third in the nation, behind Delaware and Massachusetts. Minneapolis Ranked “Top City for Technology” by Popular Science (2005) “There is no city in America where a culture of high technology has a more pervasive presence,” according to Popular Science. Key factors contributing to Minneapolis’ top technology ranking included innovative transportation solutions, nearly 4,000 high-tech companies and 110 Wi-Fi hot spots, and eight EPA-lauded Energy Star Buildings. Popular Science rankings focused on the number of high-tech jobs per capita, use of technology in schools, sophistication of medical and emergency response systems, and extent to which a city is wired. Business Facilities Ranked Minnesota “13th Best State to Locate a Biotech Business” (2004) According to Business Facilities, Minnesota ranked 13th as a place to locate a biotechnology business in 2004.The ranking was based on a comparison of the state’s biotech industry employment against the national average. Minnesota is considered a national biotech leader and a model for other states. Business Facilities Ranked Minnesota “Second Best State to Locate a Medical Device Business” (2004) In 2004, Business Facilities rated Minnesota the second best state in which to locate a medical device or equipment business.
Minneapolis/Saint Paul Ranks Seventh Nationally in Brainpower by Bizjournals (2008) The Twin Cities region is one of the “ten smartest metros” in America, according to Bizjournals. The newspaper group cites two reasons for the region’s solid intellectual base: it is “the corporate capital of the Upper Midwest” and the home of the University of Minnesota. It also has an exceptionally low high school dropout rate.
Minneapolis Ranked “Sixth Most Educated City in U.S.” by Encarta Online (2007) Encarta Online bestowed Minneapolis with the 2007 title of “Sixth Most Educated City in the U.S.” based on the percent of its population with a college degree. In the Encarta rankings, education levels bode well for a city’s economic success: the top cities on the list of “most educated” also made the list of “most prosperous.” Minneapolis Tops List of “America's Most Literate Cities” (2007) Minneapolis was “America's Most Literate City” in 2007, according to the annual ranking posted by Central Connecticut State College. Saint Paul was third, having steadily climbed from 11th place in 2003. The study ranks major cities with a population of more than 250,000 based on six key indicators of literacy: newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, educational attainment, and Internet resources. In securing the top spot, Minneapolis bumped Seattle (which held the top spot for the past two years) to No. 2. U.K. Consulting Firm Named Twin Cities “The World’s No. 1 Knowledge Economy” (2005) Robert Huggins Associates, a United Kingdom research-based economics consultancy and think tank, named the Twin Cites the top “knowledge economy” in the world. The 2005 report analyzed the knowledge capacity, capability and sustainability of 125 regions across the globe. The Twin Cities was recognized for the extent to which it translates knowledge into economic value and transfers it into wealth for the citizens. Minneapolis Named “America’s Smartest City” byMen’s Health Magazine (2005) Minneapolis topped the list of 101 American cities in Men’s Health magazine’s 2005 “Smartest City” ranking. Results were based on number of bachelor’s degrees per capital, number of universities, average SAT scores, creativity scores, and number of Nobel prizes in medicine and physics.
Minnesota Ranks Third in Nation Wind-Energy Production (2008) A 2008 study by the American Wind Energy Association ranks Minnesota near the top of the list for wind production – thanks in part to Exel Energy, the country's largest wind-producer. It places third nationally for existing wind capacity, behind only Texas and California. It ranked second in the portion of electricity generated from wind power, behind Iowa. It is ninth in potential wind capacity, with 46 projects under construction. Minneapolis Is One of the Greenest Cities in America, Says Earth Day Network (2007) The Earth Day Network calls Minneapolis one of the top greenest cities in America, according to a 2007 article in MSN’s City Guide. The title coincides with the region’s efforts to position the Twin Cities as a national leader in the economic development of green manufacturing techniques. Forbes Ranks Twin Cities “World’s Fifth Cleanest City” (2007) Forbes named Minneapolis and its Saint Paul twin the fifth cleanest city in the world in 2007. The region’s heavy use of bike lanes and its well functioning light rail and bus system gave it an edge over other environmentally progressive cities. Minneapolis Listed Among Top 20 Cities Hosting Green Conventions by Meetings and Conventions (2006) Minneapolis ranked fifth among 20 cities in North America that are doing their part to host green conventions. The 2006 rankings were based on city provision of renewable energy, intelligent recycling programs, transportation that minimizes use of fossil fuels, and plenty of parkland. EPA Hailed Downtown Minneapolis as One of “17 Best Workplaces for Commuters” The Environmental Protection Agency singled out downtown Minneapolis as one of the 17 best business districts in the nation for commuters.
Transportation & Infrastructure MSP Airport Ranks Among Top Ten in Air Cargo Excellence (2007) Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ranks among North America’s top ten airports for cargo excellence. The award is based on Air Cargo World’s 2007 excellence survey, where MSP competed against airports handling less than 500,000 tons annually. The survey awarded points for performance, value, facilities and regulatory operations. It also names Northwest Airlines among the world’s “Top 25 Airlines” for cargo excellence. Expansion Management Ranked Twin Cities Third in Overall Logistics Infrastructure (2006) The 2006 Expansion Management recognition for logistics infrastructure was based on a comparison of metro regions across the county. The Twin Cities region’s ranking reflected workforce costs, road and interstate highway conditions, taxes, fees and railways. MSP International Airport Ranked Highest by Travelers from Around the World (2005) Travelers from around the world ranked the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport the highest of any in the U.S. – and 20th in the world. The results were based on an independent survey conducted by Skytrax in 2004-2005. It measured more than 30 aspects of passenger satisfaction for airport product and service standards. Skytrax is considered the primary benchmarking tool for passenger satisfaction levels at airports throughout the world.
Minnesotans Have Healthiest Hearts in Nation, Says America Heart Association (2008) The American Heart Association recognized Minnesota in 2008 for having the lowest rate of coronary heart disease in the nation. In fact, the rate has decreased by almost half in the past decade. Minnesota’s healthy heart is attributed to major lifestyle changes in the areas of exercise, healthy eating, doctor visits, and smoking cessation. Twin Cities Region Ranks Low on National Stress Rankings, Reports BizJournals (2008) The Minneapolis/Saint Paul region ranks 40th in a 2008 comparison of 50 major U.S. cities. BizJournals attributes the region’s relatively low “stress index” to clean air, safe surroundings, low unemployment, short commutes, affordable mortgages and healthy lifestyles. Minnesota Moves up to “Second Healthiest State” in Morgan Quitno National Ranking (2007) In yet another validation of its healthy-state status, Minnesota moved up from third to second place in Morgan Quitno’s Health Care State Rankings 2007. Published annually, the book bases its awards on 21 health-related factors – including access to quality healthcare, affordability, and healthy lifestyles. Metro MSP Routinely Recognized as One of Healthiest Regions in U.S. Numerous health and fitness organizations have recognized the Metro MSP region as one of the healthiest in the U.S.
Minneapolis/Saint Paul Ranks Among Top 20 Markets for Young People by Bizjournals (2008) The Twin Cities is the only Midwest metro area to make Bizjournals’ 2008 list of the 20 best markets for young people. Bizjournals gave the highest marks to places with strong growth rates, moderate costs of living, and large pools of young, college-educated adults with jobs. The Twin Cities ranked 17th nationally. Minnesota Named “Fourth Most Livable State” in Morgan Quitno’s State Rankings (2008) In its 18th annual edition of State Rankings, Morgan Quitno named Minnesota among the four most livable states in the nation in 2008. Unlike other rankings, the award does not focus on any one criterion. Instead, it considers 44 quality-of-life factors covering a broad range of economic, education, health, public safety and environment issues. Minnesota has been in the top tier for several years. Three Metro MSP Cities Rank Among “100 Best Communities for Young People” (2008) Three of the nation's “100 Best Communities for Young People” are located in the Metro MSP region, according to America's Promise Alliance. Leading the list of Twin Cities winners is St. Louis Park, which was one of 44 nationwide that won the distinction for the third consecutive year. The east-metro cities of Saint Paul and Landfall made the 2008 list for the first time. Kiplinger’s Names Minneapolis/Saint Paul Among “Most Family-Friendly Cities” (2007) Kiplinger’s recognizes the family appeal of the Twin Cities, giving top marks to its “clean, progressive metro area that’s studded with architectural gems, and laced with lakes, rivers and parks that are an easy walk from almost anywhere.” Kiplinger’s notes that the region offers “the classic ingredients for a creative class” that include respected public schools, a wealth of colleges and universities, cultural opportunities, reasonable housing options, and a diverse, well-educated population. Forbes Names Minneapolis “Most Affordable Place to Live Well” in America (2007) The national business journal Forbes names Minneapolis the “Most Affordable Place to Live Well,” based on a 2007 study of the nation’s 50 largest cities. Minneapolis ranks ahead of Indianapolis, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Houston – the other “most affordable” cities. The magazine bases its rankings on a number of metrics, including affordable housing, high quality of life, and access to choice arts, leisure, and entertainment offerings. One factor pushes the Minneapolis area to the top: 61% of homes sold are affordable to the median household earner. Money Magazine Names Chaska “Eighth Best Place to Live” for Two Years Straight (2007) This growing southwest Metro suburb was named “eighth best place to live” in the nation for two consecutive years. The honors were based on Chaska’s affordable housing, plentiful leisure and cultural activities, job growth, sunny weather, short commutes and good healthcare access. Two other Twin Cities suburbs – Apple Valley and Vadnais Heights – made Money’s top 100 list. StatePolicy Reports Ranks Minnesota Ninth Overall in “Camelot Index” (2007) The bi-monthly trend report published by the Federal Funds Information for States ranks states on six quality-of-life measures. In the separate categories, Minnesota ranks second in Healthy People and Healthy Society components, 10th in the Educated Population component, 22nd in the Crime-Free component, 23rd in the Healthy Economy component, and 33rd in the Prudent Government component. Minnesota has been one of the most livable states nationwide over the last 12 years. Minneapolis Earns Fourth Place in “Best Cities” Ranking by Cooking Light (2007) Minneapolis earns the fourth spot in Cooking Light magazine’s 2007 list of “Best Cities.” The City of Lakes ranks highly in percent of population in good or better health, money spent per capita on parklands, and percent of the population that participates in exercise. “Minneapolis has a hip, cosmopolitan vibe wrapped in Midwest friendliness,” the magazine writes. Region Earns Top Ratings for Cleanliness, Quality Theater and Intelligence by CNN (2007) The Minneapolis/Saint Paul region earns high marks in an online perception survey of “America’s Favorite Cities” conducted in spring 2007 by Travel + Leisure magazine and CNN Headline News. More than 60,000 people responded to the poll, which rated the 25 largest urban centers in the country in more than 60 categories. Minneapolis/Saint Paul was voted the cleanest city in the country. It took second place in three categories: theater (topped only by New York), intelligent people, and access to parks. Respondents also recognized “Minnesota Nice,” ranking the region third on the “friendly scale.” Kiplinger’s Names Metro MSP Region No. 2 on List of “50 Smart Places to Live” (2007) Teaming up with Bert Sterling of Cities Ranked & Rated, Kiplinger’s went in search of the perfect place to live in America – and found 50. Minneapolis/Saint Paul claimed the No. 2 spot because it offers “a hip and progressive atmosphere with a Midwest sensibility, multiple cultural outlets, pro teams in all four major sports, a dozen universities and colleges (there are in fact 33), and a diverse economy.” Minneapolis Named Among Top Travel Destinations for Style-Driven Travelers (2006) Travel + Leisure listed Minneapolis as one of its “Where to Go Next” cities for style-driven travelers in 2006. The magazine commended the region’s cutting-edge art and architecture, booming riverfront development, and abundance of museums, theaters, restaurants and new hotels. Metro MSP Ranked “Eighth Best Place to Live and Work” by Expansion Magazine (2006) The Minneapolis/Saint Paul metro area was named one of America’s “Top 10 Metros Overall” in Expansion Management’s fourth annual Mayor’s Challenge. The challenge considered criteria such as high school graduation rates, quality healthcare services, quality of life, transportation infrastructure and business climate. Forbes Ranks Minneapolis High in Lifestyle Factors for Young Professionals (2006) Forbes magazine ranked Minneapolis high in lifestyle factors that appeal to young professionals. Its 2006 report placed Minneapolis second in the homebuyers’ market, fifth in cleanliness and eighth for young professionals. It also named the Twin Cities 14th best area for singles in 2006. Minneapolis Makes Frommer’s List of Top 12 Travel Destinations (2006) Frommer’s travel guide named Minneapolis one of the top 12 travel destinations in the world in 2006. It shared the honor with such international cities as Tokyo, Krakow and Zurich. Minnesota Earned Top Marks in Kids Count Report (2006) Minnesota is one of the best states in the country in which to raise children, according to the 2006 Kids Count report. The state ranked fourth in the nation. Kiplinger’s Named Minneapolis One of the “Seven Coolest Cities” (2005) The mantle of coolness was bestowed in 2005 in recognition of Minneapolis’ large population of under-30 professionals, solid job market, and friendly cost-of-living for students and young workers. Child Magazine Ranked Twin Cities “Third Best Metro Area for Raising Kids” Child magazine ranked the Twin Cities third on its list of “Top Ten Cities to Raise Children.” The award was based partially on the region’s availability of arts programming and museums.
MOA’s Nickelodeon Universe Named Largest Indoor Amusement Park in America (2008) Covering seven acres inside the Mall of America, the recently renovated attraction is the largest indoor family amusement park in the nation. It features 30 rides and attractions, including a giant roller coaster. It is one of several Mall of America attractions – including LEGO®, Underwater Adventures Aquarium, NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway and ACES Flight Simulator. The Mall’s attractions and 400 stores draw more than 40 million visitors each year, making it the most popular destination in Minnesota. Minneapolis Named One of “America’s Top 25 Arts Destinations” by American Style (2006) Minneapolis was ranked ninth among mid-sized cities as a “top arts destination” by American Style in 2006. The competition recognized the richness and variety of the city’s visual arts sites, activities and events. Guthrie Theater Named Among “Most Important Buildings of 21st Century” by GQ Magazine (2006) Jean Nouvel’s realized vision for the famed Guthrie Theater was hailed by GQ as “a jaw-dropping feat of engineering and architectural chutzpah.” Presiding over the shores of the Mississippi River in one of Minneapolis’s most exciting neighborhoods, the new Guthrie brings all the theater’s activities together under one roof. The theater center features dramatic river views, the spectacular endless bridge and two celebrated restaurants. Minneapolis Institute of Arts Named Among “Top Ten Art Museums” by MSN and CitySearch (2005) The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has more than 100,000 pieces of art spanning diverse cultures and 5,000 years of history. A new wing designed by Michael Graves was completed in 2006 to display contemporary and modern works and to provide more gallery space. Sculpture Garden Draws National Attention The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home of the iconic "Cherry and Spoon" sculpture, is recognized as the largest sculpture garden in the U.S. Time Ranked Children's Theatre Company as Best Kids Troupe in Country Time magazine ranked the Minneapolis Children's Theatre Company as the best kids troupe in the country.
For additional rankings on Metro MSP attractions and destinations, visit www.MoretoLife.com.
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