Reno ranks among nation’s top cities to do business

Saturday, March 6, 2004 | 10:25 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - Reno ranks sixth out of 89 mid-sized cities across the country for doing business, according to a magazine's survey.

Inc. magazine's March issue also ranked Reno 108th out of 276 cities of all sizes for most balanced economy and growth, and 22nd out of 276 for fastest, most sustained growth.

The magazine considered the cities' quality of life and business environment - two factors that have lured business to northern Nevada from California for years.

"The ranking supports that Reno and the northwestern Nevada region is a hotbed for business," said Chuck Alvey, president and CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada.

The cities that ranked the highest showed new job growth, much of which is driven by small businesses. The top cities also enjoy business-friendly tax and regulatory climates.

"We have had a steady increase in small business owners calling for more information on our area," said Harry York, president and CEO of the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce.

Even with a new 0.7 percent business gross payroll tax, Nevada still beats California, said Bruce Rector, who moved his electronic documents management company to Reno from the San Francisco Bay area in the early 1990s.

"Sure, taxes have gone up. All in all, it's still business friendly when you compare it with other areas," Rector told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

The Reno area reported a 2.9 percent average job growth rate per year from 1993 to 2003. Since 2000, the average annual job growth rate jumped to 3.9 percent.

Reno was selected as one of "America's Hottest Cities to Find Jobs" by Time magazine in November.

---

Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal