Oklahoma City and Tulsa have recognized over the past year for their competitiveness in site selection projects, their business community, and for many other reasons. Ada is a significantly smaller market than these two metropolitan areas, so it is not included in the rankings. However when one community in Oklahoma is recognized for it's low cost of living or attractiveness for young adults, all the communities in Oklahoma benefit. 

The following article was in the Business section of the Oklahoman this week:

Cost of living elevates city’s competitiveness

Oklahoma City’s low cost of living helped it rank the least-costly city of its size in KPMG’s Competitive Alternatives International Business Location Guide.

Oklahoma was the best of 12 metropolitan areas with populations between 1 million and 2 million.

"This is more evidence Oklahoma City can compete with any market in the United States,” said Roy Williams, president of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. "Our low cost of living and business-friendly climate continue to be a huge asset in recruiting and retaining companies to our city.”

Low cost of living is nothing to take for granted. When my husband was looking for a job last year, we passed on out-of-state opportunities because the cost of living in places like Chicago or Seattle was too high for our comfort level. Fortunately, he found a great opportunity here.

The KPMG ranking, which scored Oklahoma City an index of 95.6, also noted low costs for labor, leasing rates and utilities. All 12 cities had costs below the U.S. baseline of 100.

Raleigh, N.C., ranked second in the study, with Buffalo, N.Y., and Nashville,Tenn., coming in third and fourth, respectively. Other cities that performed well were Indianapolis,Salt Lake City,Wilmington, Del., Milwaukee, and Providence, R.I.The report said Oklahoma City even outpaces some larger markets —Atlanta, Miami ,Dallas and Houston.

The KPMG study measures 26 cost components, as they apply to 17 industries, over a 10-year planning horizon.
"Selecting the best site for a business operation requires balanced consideration of many factors, including business costs, business environment, personnel costs and quality-of-life issues,” said Hartley Powell, leader of KPMG’s global location and expansion services practice.

Oklahoma City has gotten lots of good buzz in recent months.

Business Insider named it among "20 Cities that Are Having an Awesome Recovery,” and Portfolio.com ranks it No. 6 among the top 10 "Best Places for Young Adults.”

In December, MarketWatch.com put Oklahoma City in its top 25 Best Cities for Business” list.

Read more here.