I know it’s Wordless Wednesday here at Dose of DMU, but news today deserves comment: Forbes has declared our fine city the best place in the nation for young professionals.
Forbes columnist Morgan Brennan states, “The Iowa state capital has a higher concentration of big businesses (1 for every 568 residents) than any other city we assessed, which equals more job opportunities. Financial services and insurance companies like Principal Financial Group and EMC Insurance Companies have long made their home in the corn-belt city, earning it the nickname ‘Hartford of the West.’
“With business costs 16% below the national average, Des Moines has been attracting startups and companies relocating from the coasts,” Brennan continues, “and a number of established companies in the area are expanding, like DuPont’s bioscience unit Pioneer Hybrid, which plans to hire an additional 500 employees over the next few years. As a result, Des Moines boasts a low 5.8% unemployment rate (sixth lowest of the 100 cities we studied) and healthy projected job growth rates of 0.97% in 2011 and 2.86% in 2012.”
That’s good news for DMU students and their significant others. Forbes quotes Mary Bontrager, vice president of workforce for the Greater Des Moines Partnership: “We’re encountering a lot of young individuals moving here from larger cities where it would take five or 10 years to ascend into positions, where here they are having opportunities given to them to move more quickly into their career paths.”
Happy Des Moines residents include Chelsea Smith, who moved here with her husband and DMU student Chase Deobald from Boise, Idaho, more than a year ago. Since then, reports today’s Des Moines Register, she’s immersed herself in the community, joining groups like the Young Professionals Connection and volunteering at nonprofits. “It’s so easy to get involved and make a change,” Chelsea told the Register.
We at DMU already knew how cool our city is, with its thriving and eclectic entertainment options, the arts, music, sports, family-friendly activities and much more. Of course, it’s always nice to hear it affirmed. Read our coverage of Des Moines’ urban renaissance in last summer’s DMU Magazine.
