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Front Range Cities Top Forbes Biz-Friendly List

J. Stephen Conn
/
Flickr - Creative Commons
The historic courthouse in Greeley, which was named one of Forbes' top cities for business in 2014

We all know Colorado is a great place to live and do business, thanks to a wealth of high-tech companies, a diverse economy, and plenty of highly educated workers. That’s why it’s not too surprising to see five Front Range cities performing well in Forbes’ Best and Worst Places for Business 2014.

Still, it’s great to be able to brag that Northern Colorado can count three of its own cities near the very top of the list: Denver at no. 4, Fort Collins at no. 5, and Greeley at no. 20.

Forbes cites “Denver's diverse economy and significant outdoor recreational options” as primary factors in its placement. The prevalence of high-tech companies and highly educated workers put Fort Collins into the top 5.

But it’s Greeley that continues to grab attention as a business-friendly city. In 2013, the Millken Institute named it the 10th best performing city in the U.S.

Fast forward to today: Greeley’s rapid job growth and business affordability landed the city in this particular top 20 for the first time. Forbes notes that only Austin, Texas had faster job growth during the last few years. The Weld County seat was also named the fourth best in the U.S. for job growth in 2014.

Boulder also made the list of Best and Worst Places for Business for 2014 at no. 23, while Colorado Springs was ranked at no. 29.

Raleigh, North Carolina was named top city; while Atlantic City, New Jersey had the dubious distinction of being named the worst city to do business, coming in at no. 200 on the list.

As the host of KUNC’s new program and podcast In the NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.
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