[Press Release] : Press Release

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of
Columbia's Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided
links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.
______________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Genalee Alexander, Regional Economic Development, Inc. - (573)
442-8303 or Robert Ross, Public Communications - (573) 874-7220

Columbia receives high ranking in Mayor's Challenge: List of Best
Metros for Business Expansion and Relocations

COLUMBIA, MO (July 26, 2004) -- Columbia has been ranked number five of
metro areas of 250,000 or less in the "Mayor's Challenge: List of Best
Metros for Business Expansion and Relocation." Columbia was ranked
number 14 out of all 331 metro areas in the nation.

"I am very pleased with Columbia's ranking which recognizes that
the city provides the type of environment that allows businesses to
realize their full potential," said Mayor Darwin Hindman. "This type
of recognition sets Columbia apart from other communities and places us
on the lists of desirable communities for business. Our highest ranking
comes in the category of quality of life and I want to once again
emphasize that businesses recognize this as an important factor for
their employees."

"I also am very pleased that Columbia has been highly ranked by
Expansion Management Magazine," said Raymond A. Beck, city manager.
"A great deal of credit is due the mayor and City Council for their
commitment to making Columbia a desirable place to live and work. Our
quality of life and access to public and higher education are always
highly ranked and they figured into this recognition."

According to an Expansion Management Magazine July 18, 2004 news
release: "During the past 12 months, Expansion Management's research
department published six major studies that evaluated and compared 331
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) according to a variety of
categories that corporate site selectors need to consider when choosing
the best location for an impending facility." The general categories
that were used in making the selections included: public education,
college-educated work force, health care costs and availability, quality
of life, logistics infrastructure and government taxes and spending.

- 30 -
______________________________________________________

Archived press releases can be viewed online at: 
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ (GoWord: GoPressRelease)
______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or
subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and
follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ (GoWord: GoWebMail)