Of cities in the top 10, only Boise and Raleigh, N.C., have been the most consistent top performers in recent years.

Just you wait, Raleigh. There's always next year.

Boise is the second-best place in the country for business and careers, according to Forbes magazine.

For the fourth straight year, Boise landed in the top 5 in what may be the most prestigious of city rankings compiled by national business magazines. A high Forbes ranking provides a marketing tool for state and local business recruiters like the Idaho Commerce Department and the Boise Valley Economic Partnership.

Forbes released its annual list of the top cities Wednesday. Boise moved up one spot from No. 3 in 2007. Raleigh, N.C., captured the top spot for the second year in a row.

The report ranked 200 metro areas on factors including job and income growth, business and living costs, education of the work force, migration trends, and quality-of-life measures like crime rates and cultural opportunities.

Boise ranked highest in job growth at 13. It also ranked 17th for the cost of doing business and 15th for net migration. Boise's lowest ranking was 169 for culture and leisure.

Boise's ranking increased despite a year that was marked by a significant decline in the housing market and the layoff of more than 1,100 Micron employees.

Kurt Badenhausen, associate editor at Forbes, said the rankings aren't based on just one year of data, but on five years.

"Every area has its highs and lows, but on an overall long-term basis we look at the long-term strength," he said. "In Boise you may not think things are going so well, but a lot of places in the country are really hurting a lot more."

In 2005, Boise took the top spot but dropped to No. 4 in 2006 before climbing to No. 3 in 2007. Boise's rival to the north, Spokane, jumped from No. 20 last year to No. 9 this year. Fort Collins, Colo., went from No. 28 to No. 3.

But Badenhausen said only Boise and Raleigh have been the most consistent top performers, appearing on the list more often than other cities. He credits both areas' steady economic performance.

"It's always beneficial to be in the top 10, but to be in the top five is absolutely incredible publicity," said Paul Hiller, executive director of the Boise Valley Economic Partnership, an arm of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Hiller said he wasn't surprised. "There has been a lot of talk about a slowdown, but our unemployment is still under 3 percent, and we have a strong, diversified technology economy," he said. "When you look at Boise compared to other cities, we're still pretty strong."

Hiller said his organization has had more inquiries this month than ever before from companies looking to expand to Boise.

Kevin Benedict, CEO of MobileDataforce, said he's not surprised that Boise continues to rank high. Eight years ago, Benedict said, he left the crowds of Seattle to move his family to Boise and hasn't regretted it once. Boise's strong reputation has helped him boost sales at his software business and attract employees, Benedict said. Only a handful of his 47 employees are from Boise.

To close a sale, he often brings a potential client to Boise and gives a tour of the area, often with activities like fly fishing.

"We have a 90 percent close rate when we have a company come visit us, so we promote the heck out of Boise," Benedict said.

The ranking appears online and in Forbes' April 7 issue that hits newsstands this week.

This article was written by Ken Dey of the Idaho Statesman - kdey@idahostatesman.com

Edition Date: 03/20/08