One of the nation's 10 best places for business and careers, rated 7th among the 200 largest metro areas by Forbes, March 19, 2008.

One of the nation's top 20 places to educate your child (rated #12), in Forbes.com, December 12, 2007.

One of the nation’s best large metros for public schools (rated #8) in Expansion Management, December 2007.

One of the nation's top 20 real estate markets for expanding companies in Expansion Management, October 2007.

An economic development "hot spot," rated fourth of the top 20 mid-sized metros rated by the National Policy Research Council in Expansion Management, October 2007.

A five-star metro area for logistics operations in Expansion Management and Logistics Today magazines in October 2007.

The third best metro center for business, rated by Dow Jones MarketWatch, September 21, 2007.

The sixth best metro area for business opportunity in Expansion Management's "Mayor's Challenge" ranking, August 16, 2007.

The metro area with the lowest foreclosure rate for the first half of 2007, in a study by RealtyTrak, August 2007.

Sixth of the top 50 medium markets for relocating families (population of 575,000 to 1,250,000) in a 2007 study from Primacy Relocation and Worldwide ERC® in conjunction with Bert Sperling's BestPlaces.

Ranked 27th of the nation's 361 metropolitan statistical areas for long-term economic strength, by Policom Corporation in 2007.

Number 8 of the top 20 U.S. large metros for business attraction and recruitment in Expansion Management, June 19, 2007.

One of North America's top five large cities for best quality of life, human resources, and development and investment promotion in Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) magazine's "North American Cities of the Future 2007/08" competition, April/May 2007 issue.

One of the South's top 10 places for the creative class in Southern Business & Development, Winter 2007.

A five-star metro area for knowledge workers in Expansion Management, April 12, 2007.

One of America's 50 Hottest Cities for business expansions and relocations in Expansion Management magazine's February 2007 issue.

One of the top 18 emerging golf retirement regions (rated 14th) in Business Week, November 13, 2006.

Number 3 of the 20 hot headquarters metros for the 21st century in Business Facilities, Ranking Report, July 2005

The twelfth most competitive metro area (of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas) in Beacon Hill Institute's Metro Area and State Competitiveness Report 2005.

The sixth best metro area to get a job (of the nation's 100 largest metro areas), according to Forbes.com, July 19, 2006.

Number 26 of the nation's 50 "smart places to live" in the June 2006 issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

One of seven vacation destinations for this summer that "won't break the bank" in Money magazine, May 2006.

America's 14th best metropolitan area for small business in Bizjournals.com, January 2006.