Columbia, Mo., ranks at the top of the list of the . The index ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. The components include job, wage and salary, and technology growth. In most years, these give a good indication of the underlying structural performance of regional economics.
According to the Milken Institute, Columbia had strong performances across the board, with the largest growth in Five-Year Relative High-Tech GDP and the number of high-tech industries driving its top ranking.
The University of Missouri in Columbia enhances the city's ranking through job creation, support of the local economy as well as supporting high-tech growth. In 2013 alone, the UM System received 16 new invention disclosures, created four startups using system technologies, and was issued 37 U.S. patents and filed 90 new patient applications.
Columbia jumped nine spots from 2012 to finish first among the small cities.
Reviewed 2014-01-06