Sioux City Metro Ranks First in Nation for Economic Development

For the fifth time in the last decade, the Sioux City metropolitan region ranks first in the nation for economic development, according to results confirmed today by Site Selection magazine. The region also earned top billing in back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008, as well as in 2012 and 2013. The metro ranked second both in 2009 and 2014 and finished third in 2006. The region has ranked in the top three nationally in its population category in a remarkable eight of the last ten years.

The Siouxland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which saw Plymouth County in Iowa added to the region three years ago, ranked first in the nation for the 2015 calendar year based on qualified economic development projects for communities with populations between 50,000 and 200,000 people.

Adam Bruns, Managing Editor of Site Selection magazine based in suburban Atlanta, traveled to Sioux City to make the official announcement at a press conference hosted at the offices of The Siouxland Initiative. Stated Bruns, “Regionalism is paid more than lip service in Siouxland. The fact that the region has earned this first place honor five times in the past eight years speaks to a long-term vision and continuity that gives company decision-makers confidence. No wonder so many of the projects we’ve tracked are repeat investments from satisfied companies."

Tracked and confirmed annually by Site Selection’s “New Plant Database,” qualifying projects must include new construction and meet at least one of three criteria: capital investment of $1 million or more, creation of a minimum of 20 new jobs, or the addition of at least 20,000 square feet of new floor space. Retail, government, school, medical office, and hospital projects are not eligible for consideration.