Tulsa named to list of business friendly communities

By KYLE ARNOLD World Staff Writer
Published: 4/23/2011 2:26 AM

Tulsa has been picked as one of the top 10 pro-business communities without a beach in the southern U.S. by Southern Business and Development.

The list by the website, which serves economic development and business organizations, contains cities that don't have the benefits of the ocean and bay ports, putting Tulsa up against the likes of Little Rock, San Antonio and Baton Rouge, La.

The selection highlights Tulsa's relatively low cost of living, pro-business environment and the Tulsa Port of Catoosa in making the area more attractive to relocating and expanding businesses.

"It's great recognition in the progress we are making on the economic development front," said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Metro Chamber.

Other areas that made the list were Winston-Salem, N.C.; Huntsville, Ala.; Williamson County, Tenn.; Augusta, Ga.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Columbia, S.C.

The business site says Tulsa has the fifth lowest cost of doing business in the nation.

Along with commending Tulsa, the website also places Neal among the "Ten People Who Made a Difference in the South."

He was listed among people such as Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and other chamber of commerce and economic development leaders.

"While there are many local economic developers who have turned more projects than Michael Neal has since he accepted the job to run Tulsa's chamber in 2006, few have done a better job at retaining and growing the companies they already have," Southern Business and Development said.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=46&articleid=20110423_46_E1_CUTLIN455364