What makes a city a good location for business? What are the special qualities that make a city a good place to live? There seem to be as many opinions on those questions as there are surveys and rankings. Regardless, metro Denver ranks high in studies based on the critical factors important to companies looking for a new location. The following reasons consistently make metro Denver a strong contender for new and expanding operations.

• Quality Labor Force: Metro Denver has one of the most highly educated populations of any major U.S. city. 1995 data from the Census Bureau shows that the Denver/Boulder region has the highest percentage of high school graduates in its population (92.1%) of any major US city, and the second highest percentage of college graduates (35.0%, behind only Boston) of any major US city.

• Real Estate Costs: As of mid-year 1996, the average lease rate for Class A office space in metro Denver was about $17 per square foot. This represents one of the lowest rates of any major city in the country. The office vacancy rate has dropped from a high of nearly 28% in 1987 to 10.3% in 1996. For manufacturing space, the average lease rate in metro Denver is $5.92, while warehouse/distribution space leases for $3.32 per square foot.

• Access to Markets: Denver's central location in the United States provides convenient access to the entire nation. The nation's newest and sixth busiest airport- Denver International Airport - provides daily, nonstop service to more than 110 U.S. cities. And since its opening in February 1995, DIA has consistently ranked in the top three airports nationwide in on time departures and arrivals. Additionally, three major interstate highways pass through Denver, securing the metro area's role as a transportation hub.

• Diverse Economic Base: A 1996 study by the Corporation for Enterprise Development found that Colorado has one of the most diverse economies in the country. This diversification means greater economic stability, enabling Denver to absorb employment shocks more efficiently than areas with more specialized economies.

• Higher Education & Research: There are 15 four-year colleges and universities with at least 200 students in the metro area, as well as several smaller schools. Nearly 100,000 students attend a four year institution in metro Denver. There are eight two-year and community colleges in the metro area providing programs and short courses for almost 38,000 students. In addition, over 90 vocational/technical schools offer courses in dozens of program areas.

• Telecommunications: State-of-the-art telecommunications services are in place, including fiber optic networks, digital central offices, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), self-healing networks and alternative access providers. As the headquarters for major telecommunications and cable television companies, Denver is on the leading edge of the information highway revolution, with research and testing of a wide range of innovation products and services. In addition, Denver is the only major city in the United States where single-relay, one-bounce satellite transmissions are possible to Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and Antarctica.

• Cost of Living: 'Affordable' is the word that best describes the cost of living in the Denver area. Metro Denver ranks 3.1 percent above the national average for cost of living in the second quarter of 1996, but well below many other major cities. The cost of living in Denver is not only lower than California, but also ranks below Chicago, Seattle and Portland.

• Cost of Housing: The median price of an existing single family house sold in the metro area through the second quarter of 1996 was $132,300. While housing prices have appreciated an average of ten percent annually over the past four years, Denver's median home price still ranks in the middle of the thirty largest metro areas.

• Quality of Life: With the Colorado Rocky Mountains only minutes away - and an urban environment full of activity, entertainment and the arts - metro Denver offers businesses and employees additional benefits. To the west, the mountains offer the finest skiing, hiking and scenery in the world. Along with the wide variety of art galleries, museums and theaters, the metro area offers something for everyone.

• Climate: One of the main reasons for Denver's outdoor lifestyle is its climate. While Colorado is known for its winter activities, such as skiing, metro Denver offers moderate seasonal temperatures, with four distinct seasons. Denver boasts more sun annually than San Diego, CA or Miami, FL.

It's hard to stop there. We could list many more, such as low utility costs, excellent trucking service, short commute times, reasonable tax structures, high-quality business parks, enterprise zone tax credits and a good choice of available commercial space. One additional factor to add to the list is the Metro Denver Network (MDN). The Metro Denver Network brings all the site-selection and planning resources of the six county area under one umbrella. A collaborative effort of all Denver-area economic development groups, the network can provide you with the information your business needs to make a site-selection decision. Contact the Metro Denver Network at (303)620-8034 with any questions you have about the Denver metro area.