City of Tampa Has Plenty to Be Happy About

Published by nora | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Communities, Miscellaneous

There are lots of positive developments that should make residents of the city of Tampa happy amid discouraging news about the U.S. economy. Foreign investments, business relocations, company expansions, job creations, new home and existing home sales – all these and some more are getting done in Tampa. The city also is in many lists of Bests, making Tampa among the best to places to move to, whether it is for business, education or residence.

City of Tampa in Recent Best Lists

List of Best Performing Large Metropolitan Areas

The Tampa-Clearwater-St. Petersburg metro area was the third large city with the biggest job growth rate in the summer months of June to September this year, according to Headlight LLC. Jobs in the Tampa area grew at an annualized growth rate of 5.1 percent and an actual rate of 1.3 percent. The only metro areas ahead of Tampa were the Riverside- Ontario-San Bernardino area and the Kansas City-Missouri-Kansas area, both of which grew by 5.9 percent.

The only other Florida metro area in this list was the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area, which topped the medium category with an annualized growth rate of 10.3 percent.

List of the Most Affordable Cities

The cost of living in the city of Tampa is lower than in most large cities in the U.S. According to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index, Tampa’s composite cost of living index in the third quarter of 2011 was 91.3, much lower than the national average cost of living index of 100. Over the past three years, Tampa has consistently maintained its COLI lower than the national COLI.

Tampa’s lower COLI means that the costs of basic needs in the city are lower than costs in other large U.S. cities. It means that housing, grocery items, utilities, health care, transportation and other goods and services in Tampa are affordable to residents.

List of 100 Best Communities for Young People

For the second consecutive year, the Tampa-Hillsborough community is again considered as one of the country’s 100 communities where young people can thrive. America’s Promise Alliance, which is devoted to increasing opportunities for young people and children, has again recognized the abundance of programs in Tampa designed to help the youth attain their dreams in life.

Recent Business Expansions and Investments in Tampa

Jobs continue to be created in the Tampa area, as foreign and domestic companies pursue their expansions in the Tampa Bay region. Among these companies are the following: One Touch Direct, NewLink Genetics, ConvergEx Group, Progressive Car Insurance, CareCentrix, Time Warner, Bankers Financial, Firmenich, Sweetbay Supermarket and CAE USA Inc.

Indeed, the city of Tampa and its residents have lots of blessings to be happy about.