WA State No. 5 "Best Tax System in the U.S. for Entrepreneurs"
- GeekWire.com, April 2012

No. 18 "Metros High in Weekly Wages"
- Garner Economics metro areas high in weekly wages with lower-than average cost of living.  Tri-Cities Cost of Living is 6.8% lower than the U.S. average, May 2012

No. 5 "Best Job Growth Since the Recession"
- Garner Economics, January 2012

Most Secure Mid-Sized US City (150,000-500,000 residents)
- Eighth Annual Farmers Insurance Study, Dec. 2011 "Secure Places to Live 2011"

No. 10 "Best Performing Cities 2011:  Where Jobs are Created and Sustained"
- The Milken Institute, December 2011
Note:  Tri-Cities moved up 19 spots from 2008 ranking and 58 spots from 2007.

11th Geekiest City in the U.S. (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco MSA)
- Forbes 2011 "Top 20 Geekiest Cities" based on the percentage of workers with jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

No. 35 "U.S. Best Cities for Economic Growth"
- Policom 2011 Economic Strength Rankings, May 2011 (up from 268 in 2004)

Tri-Cities, WA is the Fastest Growing Metropolitan Statistical Area in Washington
- Census Bureau, approx 20% since 2000

Job growth in the Tri-Cities increased by 25% over last decade; during same period, Tri-Cities annual payroll doubled
- Schau/Regional Labor Economist (1997-2007)

More Scientist/Engineers Per Capita in Nation
- 1,600 PhDs among 7,000 engineers & scientists