Site Selection released its 2012 ranking of the top states and metros in its annual "Governor's Cup" issue earlier today. The number one metro ranking considers criteria that are key factors for job growth and retention. This is the third time in four years the Houston MSA has taken the number one spot.
The Houston region logged 325 new or expanded facilities to garner the honor. Last year, the the Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area (Houston MSA) had 195 facilities considered for the ranking.
"One of the greatest strengths of doing business in Houston, and in Texas as a whole, is that we provide the resources and environment to help any company succeed. We intend to continue to make Houston the most attractive place to locate or expand a business in the United States," said Bob Harvey, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership.
In addition to the greater Houston metro being named the Top Metro, the state of Texas earned the top spot in the magazine's state rankings.
"I'm proud to see Texas claim the top spot for new and expanded corporate facilities over the last year. This is further proof that Texas continues to be a beacon of opportunity for entrepreneurs and job creators looking for a skilled and competitive workforce and freedom from over taxation, over regulation and over litigation," Gov. Rick Perry said. "We've worked hard to make Texas the best state in the nation to live, work, raise a family and own a business, and we'll continue strengthening the economic pillars that have helped us become a national example of job creation and economic strength."
The Chicago-Naperville-Joliet metro followed at number two with 311 projects, and the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro, with 224 projects, in the third spot.
Among the nation's 20 largest metro areas, Houston leads the nation in employment growth, creating 84,500 jobs in 2012, and a 3.2 percent growth rate.
"Greater Houston has demonstrated for many years that it is an economic powerhouse when it comes to landing new and expanded corporate facility projects," said Ron Starner, Executive Vice President, Site Selection magazine. "By ranking first among all metros in the U.S. yet again in 2012, Houston has shown that it is not slowing down. In fact, it was the nation's fastest-growing job market last year, and much of that job growth is coming from companies that are investing heavily into large facility projects in Greater Houston."
Site Selection's New Plant database does not track retail and government projects, schools or hospitals. New facilities and expansions included in the analyses must meet at least one of three criteria: involve a capital investment of at least $1 million; create at least 50 new jobs; or add at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area.
Site Selection Governor's Cup award, which the 59-year-old Atlanta-based magazine has awarded annually since 1978, goes to the state with the most new and expanded corporate facilities. Site Selection's yearly analyses are regarded by corporate real estate analysts as "the industry scoreboard." The magazine's circulation base consists of 44,000 executives involved in corporate site selection decisions, most at the CEO/President/COO level.
To read the article, visit SiteSelection.com.
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