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OUR STRENGTHS & OPPORTUNITIES
A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS…
#12 COST OF DOING BUSINESS
Forbes Magazine (2016)
#6
MOST BOOMING CITY IN AREA GROWTH
Forbes Magazine (2014)
TOP 50
50 BESTPERFORMING SMALL CITIES
Milken Institute (2015)
TOP 40
PLACES IN TEXAS TO START A BUSINESS
NerdWallet (2015)
#67
BEST CITIES FOR FAMILIES IN TEXAS
WalletHub (2016)
#157
US News & World Report (2016)
Organizations looking at a variety economic factors noted the many favorable conditions that exist in Longview for businesses and families.
OUR STRENGTHS & OPPORTUNITIES
The Longview area has several strengths to capitalize upon and opportunities to pursue over the next few years. Leveraging our strengths and preparing for these opportunities will create business growth and prosperity for all who call Longview “home.”
Strengths
▸ Listed by Forbes Magazine as 12th in the country for cost of doing business in their Best Small Places for Business and Careers ranking (2016) and the 6th most booming city in area growth since 2000 (2014); Milken Institute ranks
Longview in the top 50 Best-Performing Small Cities (2015);
NerdWallet ranks Longview in the top 40 communities in
Texas to start a business (2015). 67th in WalletHub’s report on 2016’s Best Cities for Families in Texas, US News &
World Report ranks LeTourneau University #27 in Regional
Universities West and #157 Best Small Places for Business and Careers in the Country (2016).
▸ Diversified economy with comparable share of employment in education, health services, government, manufacturing, and retail.
▸ Wage increases have been accelerating over the last few years.
▸ The area’s economic base is diversified with manufacturing, professional services, oil & gas, construction, healthcare, education, and retail.
▸ Cost of living is on average 4% lower compared to the rest of the country.
▸ Proximity to Dallas, Houston, and Shreveport.
Opportunities
▸ Attract and retain skilled workers and degreed individuals in the area to meet the workforce needs of businesses.
▸ Job growth in construction, while relatively flat the last couple of years, should be primed for a resurgence, which creates an up-tick in new housing development and growth in the area.
