For the second year in a row, the Siouxland region ranks number-one in the nation for economic development in metro areas of comparable size. Ron Starner, general manager of Site Selection magazine, says the Sioux City area had more qualifying projects than any other community in the U.S. with a population between 50-and-200-thousand people.

Starner says: "It must represent a capital investment of one-million dollars or greater or create 50 new jobs or more, or add 20-thousand square feet of new floor space, or greater. By getting 20 projects last year, Sioux City had the most in that population category, in fact, it doubled the size of the runner-up community, Springfield, Ohio, which had ten." Starner says it’s an impressive title to hold two years in a row, especially during such dark economic times. He says Siouxland area leaders have a lot going for them.

"They take advantage of their tri-state region, that is, they can customize packages for companies based upon whether it’d make more sense for the company to locate in Nebraska or Iowa or South Dakota," Starner says. "They have great economic developers, seasoned highly competent professionals in economic development for the state, county, regional and local level. They’re best in class for what they do."

Siouxland first entered in the Site Selection rankings in 2006 and placed third, then finished first in the nation in 2007 and 2008.