BEAVERTON, Oregon
Population: 95,109
Unemployment: 5.8 percent
Population Growth Since 2000: 79,277 to 95,109

Home to a little Mom and Pop operation called Nike, Beaverton is one of those places where the desire to do business melds with the desire for a good li
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FARMINGTON, New Mexico
Population: 44,445
Unemployment: 7.9 percent
Export Growth: 140 percent

Part of a remarkable export push by New Mexico—the state led the nation in export-related job growth with an exceptional 107 percent increase—Farm
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JERSEY CITY, New Jersey
Population: 262,146
Unemployment: 5.6 percent
New Project: Goya Foods 600,000-square-foot headquarters/warehouse/distribution center

The Jersey City Urban Enterprise Zone is the largest and most productive UEZ in New Jersey, offering ince
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LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas
Population: 197,706
Unemployment: 5.1 percent
New Project: 15,000-square-foot Argenta Innovation Center

Located at the center of the nation—residents call Little Rock where “America Comes Together”—the city is at the crossroads of I
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MACON, Georgia
Population: 89,981
Unemployment: 7.0 percent
Area Zoned for Distribution: 1,100-plus acres

At the crossroads of interstates 75 and 16, Macon is just 75 minutes from Atlanta and an equal amount of time from international airfreight facilities. Norf
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MARIETTA, Georgia
Population: 60,014
Unemployment: 6.1 percent
Residents 25 years or Older with at least Bachelor’s Degrees: 37.7 percent

As that last stat attests, Marietta’s population/workforce is a smart one, able to compete in the fast rising Atlanta me
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NORFOLK, Virginia
Population: 245,428
Unemployment: 5.2 percent
Entrepreneurial Hangout: Granby Street

The city is regularly mentioned as a great place for young entrepreneurs, in part because of the energy from in-town universities Old Dominion, Norfolk State a
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PEORIA, Illinois
Population: 115,828
Unemployment: 6.2 percent
Key Investment: $2 billion in research
and development

Peoria’s $2 billion investment in research and development is emblematic of the kind of commitment this region has made toward business
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PUEBLO, Colorado
Population: 108,423
Unemployment: 6.0 percent
Cost of Living: 11.6 percent below national average

Once such a force in American steel production that it also was called the “Steel City,” much of Pueblo’s steel industry is gone, though Evra
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RENO, Nevada
Population: 236,995
Unemployment: 6.3 percent
Key New Business: Tesla Motors

Reno would be a town to watch if only for it being named the site of Tesla Motors’ $5 billion gigafactory which is scheduled to begin producing batteries next year. The 6
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RESTON, Virginia
Population: 58,404
Unemployment: 4.0 percent
Population Growth Since 1970: 5,722 to 58,404

Founded in 1964, Reston’s residents tend to be rather smart: 66 percent of those 25 or older have at least a bachelor’s degree. The largest economic a
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ROCHESTER, New Hampshire
Population: 29,991
Unemployment: 3.7 percent
Sales Tax: 0 percent

New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte sponsored the Manufacturing Skills Act, which would create a $100 million grant to strengthen manufacturing skills, after seeing what Ro
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SUGAR LAND, Texas
Population: 86,777
Unemployment: 4.7 percent
Population Growth Since 1990: 33,712 to 86,777

The city grew an astounding 88 percent from 1990 to 2000 (33,712 to 63,328), another 25 percent over the next 10 years and another 10 percent since 2010
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TUCSON, Arizona
Population: 527,972
Unemployment: 6.2 percent
Major Employer: Raytheon Missile Systems (11,000-plus)

As Arizona works to recover from the recession, it seems Tucson may be the city that leads the way. The advanced technology industry leads the wa
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WARREN, MICHIGAN
Population: 135,099
Unemployment: 7.0 percent
Major Employer: GM Technical Center, 17,000 employees

Forbes named Warren the ninth best place for business and U.S. careers; not surprising given a cost of living nearly 10 percent below the nation
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