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What People Are Saying About Idaho...

#1 Most Friendly State for Small Business: Kauffman Foundation/Thumbtack.com, May 2012

#5 Best Economic Outlook: American Legislative Exchange Council, September 2011

  • #13, 2010
  • #14, 2009

#3 Highest Projected Percentage Job Growth, 2008-2018: Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2011

#7 Long-Term Job Growth Rate: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, June 2011

#9 Top Entrepreneurship & Innovation: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, June 2011

#10 Job Placement Efficiency: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, June 2011

#6 Least Polluting State in the Nation: 24/7 Wall Street, December 2010

#9 Healthiest State
: America's Health Rankings.org, November 2010

#5 Lowest Crime Rate in the Country:
CQ Press, 2010

#13 Best State for Business:
Chief Executive Magazine, May 2010

#4 in Entrepreneurial Activity: Kauffman Foundation Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, 2009

#7 Best State for Renewable Source Electricity Generation: Energy Information Administration, 2009

Fastest Growth for Green Jobs:
Pew Institute, June 2009

#1 Patents Per Capita: Forbes.com, May 2009

#2 Lowest Energy Costs: Small Business & Entrepreneur Council, April 2009

#14 Healthiest State: America's Health Rankings 2009

Most Improved State for Employing Energy Efficiency: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, October 2008

#4 America's Top States For Business:  CNBC.com, July 2008

#3 America's Best Places for Alternative Energy-Geothermal: Forbes.com, July 2008

#5 Best Homeownership Rate in the Nation: U.S. Census Bureau

#13 Wind Power Development Potential: American Wind Energy Association

Communities

Boise

#2 Best City for Raising a Family: Forbes.com, April 2012

#3 Lowest Cost of Doing Business in Western North America: KPMG, March 2012

#4 Healthiest City for Women: Women's Health, February 2012

#6 Top Turnaround Town: CNNMoney.com, February 2012

#5 Best Performing Medium Metro, Summer 2011: Headlight-LLC, October 2011

#62 Best Sports City:
Sporting News.com, October 2011

#3 Best Place to Retire:
CNNMoney.com, September 2011

  • #6 Best Place to Retire: Yahoo! Finance, September 2010

#8 Best Place for Paddling in the City: USA Today, August 2011

#20 Most Socially Networked City,
Men's Health, March 2011

#1 Best Adventure Town:
Outside Magazine, August 2010

#8 Most Underrated City in the West:
Life Magazine, June 2010

#16 Most Innovative City:
Forbes.com, June 2010

#2 Top Western Town of the Future: Sunset Magazine, February 2010

#6 Best U.S. Cities for Business: Market Watch, December 2009

"Best Downtown in the Rocky Mountain West": Christopher Leinberger-Brookings Institute Scholar, April 2009

#8 Best Mid-size Metropolitan Area:  MSNBC.com, March 2009

#5 Best Market for Small Businesses:
Bizjournal.com's Best Places to Start a Small Business, February 2009

Award for Municipal Excellence: National League of Cities, November 2008

"North End" Named to Top 10 Best Neighborhoods in the Country: American Planning Association, October 2008

#2 Most Secure U.S. Place: Sperlings, August 2008

#2 Best of the Best Places: MSNBC Top 10 Best Places to Live in the U.S., June 2008

#1 Economic Vitality Among U.S. Metro Areas: Brookings Institute Economic Vitality Report, June 2008

#4 Best Cities to Live: Kiplinger.com Best Cities to Live, Work, and Play, May 2008

#9 Best Places for Business and Careers: Forbes Magazine, March 2009

  • #18, May 2011
  • #9, May 2010
  • #2, May 2008
  • #3, May 2007
  • #4, May 2006
  • #8, May 2005
  • #7, May 2004
  • #2, May 2003

#5 Lowest Carbon Footprint: Shrinking the Carbon Footprint of Metro America, Brookings Institution, May 2008

#13 Job Growth: Forbes Magazine Best Places for Business and Careers, March 2008

#13 Least Costly Places to do Business: KPMG Least costly metropolitan areas to do business with populations between 500,000 and 1.5 million, April 2008

Bonners Ferry

One of the Greatest Places You've (Maybe) Never Heard Of: Mother Earth News, September 2009

Caldwell

College of Idaho #174 of the Top 569 Colleges in America: Forbes Magazine, August 2008

Coeur d'Alene

#33 Best Smaller Metro for Business and Careers: Forbes Magazine, March 2009

#2 Best Performing City, Ability to Create and Sustain Jobs: Milken Institute, May 2008

  • #6, 2007

#3 Best Small Places in America to do Business: Inc. Magazine, 2008

  • #10, 2007
  • #4, 2006

#3 Job Growth: Forbes Magazine Best Small Places for Business and Careers, March 2008

#5 Best Places Among Emerging Metropolitan Areas:  Sperling's Best Places, March 2004

Everyday with Rachael Ray, National Magazine: Praises charm and beauty of lake community, April 2009

Idaho Falls

#9 Best Minor League Sports City: Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal, August 2011

#4 Best Micro City-Business Freindliness: fDi Magazine, June 2011

#7 Best Micro City of the Future:
fDi Magazine, June 2011

Top 100 Towns in the US: CNN Money.com, July 2010

#2 Lowest Unemployment Rate Among U.S. Metropolitan Areas: MSN Careers, October 2008

#7 Job Growth: Forbes Magazine Best Small Places for Business and Careers, March 2008

Lewiston

#2 Shortest Commute Times in the Country: U.S. Census Bureau, September 2011

#1 Most Secure City in the Country:
Farmer's Insurance, December 2010

  • #1, 2009

#1 Best Cities for Hunting and Fishing Opportunities: Outdoor Life Magazine, March 2009

#2 Best Cities for Fishing and Hunting Opportunities: Outdoor Life Magazine, March 2008

Meridian

#2 Best Micro City-Quality of Life: fDi Magazine, June 2011

#7 Best Micro City-Economic Potential:
fDi Magazine, June 2011

#8 Best Family-Friendly US City:
Family Circle Magazine, July 2010

Top 100 Towns in the US: CNN Money.com, July 2010

Moscow

University of Idaho-One of Nation's Best Colleges: Princeton Review, 2010

University of Idaho-Top 100 Public/Private Institution: Washington Monthly, 2010

Among 9 Greatest Places You've Never Heard Of:  Mother Earth News, August 2008

Top Five Best Places to Live-College Towns: Men's Journal, June 2008
    "a Hip little city...an hour from Hells Canyon and five from the Bitterroot Mountains."

Pocatello

#6 Best Place to Live Cheaply: Forbes.com, September 2011

#4 Best Micro City-FDI Strategy:
fDi Magazine, June 2011

#6 Best Micro City of the Future: fDi Magazine, June 2011

Top 10 Best Cities for Families: Yahoo! Real Estate, August 2010

#7 Best Micro-City of the Future:
fDi Magazine, April 2009

#3 Growth Rate of High Tech Manufacturing: Milken Institute, 2008

#5 Best Cities for Fishing and Hunting Opportunities: Outdoor Life Magazine, March 2008

#22 Best Small Places for Business and Careers: Forbes Magazine, March 2008

Rexburg

Brigham Young University-Idaho #245 of the Top 569 Colleges in America:  Forbes Magazine, August 2008

Sandpoint

Most Beautiful Small Town in America: USA Today/Rand McNally, July 2011

The West's Most Under-the-Radar Ski Town: Sunset Magazine, December 2010

#9 Top Ten Dream Towns:
Sunset Magazine, September 2008

Valley County

#15 Best Rural Area in America to Retire: U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, August 2009