Cedar Rapids rankings boost recruitment efforts

Cedar Rapids recently has found itself atop a handful of national rankings for things like affordable homes, high-paying jobs and overall value, and city officials say the national kudos gives the community much-needed credibility in its recruiting efforts.

“We have certainly received national attention as it relates to the disaster, so it's nice to now receive some national attention as we are recovering from the disaster,” Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett said.

The rankings out of CNN, Forbes, Kiplinger and the Milken Institute are independent of any city efforts to promote itself, which Corbett said qualifies as “free publicity done in an independent role.”

“When we have that kind of excitement, it's helpful in our recruitment efforts,” he said.

Cedar Rapids this week ranked seventh in Kiplinger's new list of best cities for high-paying jobs, as noted in Wednesday's Gazette. The city in August ranked 11th in CNN Money's top 25 cities where homes are affordable, and it came in ninth in Kiplinger's September rankings of best value cities of 2011.

The community in June earned the 11th spot on Forbes' list of best places for business and careers, and Forbes in October 2010 listed Cedar Rapids as one of the “names you need to know” for its forecast economic growth.

Corbett credited Cedar Rapids' success in the national rankings to its balance of industries, from high-tech and aerospace companies to financial services organizations and businesses in the agricultural and manufacturing industry.

“It's the diversity in our economy that is helping us get this national recognition,” he said.

This week's Kiplinger rankings of best cities for high-paying jobs considered affordable living costs, appealing amenities, income growth, postings for profitable positions and unemployment rates, which Corbett said has dropped 25 percent in Cedar Rapids during the last year.

“Cedar Rapids is leading Iowa in its unemployment rate and job creation,” Corbett said. “And Iowa is leading the country.”

The city's unemployment rate sat at 6.8 percent in January 2011, and it dipped to 5.4 percent by November - below the state's rate that just reached 5.7 percent.

“We are seeing strong job growth in the Cedar Rapids corridor,” Corbett said, adding that the newest rankings show Cedar Rapids isn't creating just any jobs. “The ranking from Kiplinger is a nice feather in our cap because it's about the kinds of jobs we're creating.”

Dee Baird, president of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, said doing well in national rankings is not only helpful in attracting skilled workers to the region.

“Having a third-party credible source identify that our economy is strong and recognize the significant investment being made here is helpful to our work of attracting and retaining businesses,” Baird said.

Rankings help city officials sell the community to company heads looking to expand or debut in bustling business corridors, she said.

“It's our job to sell businesses on the benefits of moving and putting an investment here,” she said. “When you have a third party credible source like Kiplinger, it gives them additional confidence.”