Sioux City MSA Ranks First in Nation for Economic Development

A year removed from their last first in the nation ranking for economic development, the Sioux City Metropolitan Statistical Area has returned to its perch at the top of national rankings for populations under 200,000. After finishing third in 2018, the tri-state area secured the top spot in its population category in 2019 according to results released by Site Selection magazine.

Adam Bruns, who serves as the Managing Editor of Site Selection based in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, traveled to Siouxland to make the announcement at an afternoon press conference at the newly renovated offices of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and The Siouxland Initiative (TSI). Bruns, who has visited Siouxland and toured numerous local businesses in the past said, “One of the themes across all population tiers of our Top Metros this year is gateway cities. In addition to a number of investments from Big Frig to the United Sports Academy, the particular history and repurposing success in Siouxland makes it a Gateway city in more ways than one.”

The 2019 list of qualifying projects from the Siouxland metro included investments in the former Gateway space located in North Sioux City, SD, and Bruns is scheduled to tour several of the qualifying metro projects, including the repurposed United Sports Academy, during his visit this week.

Bruns was joined at the press conference by elected officials and economic development professionals from throughout the tri-state region, as well as leaders of The Siouxland Initiative. Doug Rice, who serves as President and CEO of Security National Bank Corp., and chairs TSI said, “Siouxland has seen an unprecedented level of capital investment in the last decade and we are making every effort to continue our positive momentum.” Rice added, “With multiple billions of dollars invested by the private sector and hundreds of millions in investment from the public sector over the last decade, we remain optimistic about our opportunities for continued economic growth and expansion.”

The 2019 ranking marks the eighth time since 2007 that the Siouxland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ranked first in the nation in its population category for economic development.

The Sioux City MSA was also recognized as the top economic development community for populations under 200,000 in 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017. The Siouxland metro ranked second in both 2009 and 2014 and finished third in 2006 and 2018. The metro region has ranked in the top three nationally in its population category in a remarkable twelve of the last fourteen years.

Learn more at http://siteselection.com/