The Charleston Area Alliance is pleased to share recent data indicating that the Charleston metropolitan statistical area has moved up 13 spots in the 2011 list of best performing cities by the Milken Institute.

Charleston finished at 48 in this year’s list. Milken’s best-performing cities index ranks U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth.

According to the U.S Census Bureau, MSAs are geographic entities defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use by federal statistical agencies in collecting, tabulating, and publishing federal statistics.

The Charleston MSA consists of five counties: Kanawha, Putnam, Boone, Lincoln and Clay.

To see the list and study results, click HERE.

The components for the list include job, wage and salary and technology growth. Milken rates 379 metropolitan areas in the list. Charleston was ranked in the largest metro category.

“The positive factors for our MSA included job growth, wage and salary growth. Where this study shows we have room for improvement is in the high-technology gross domestic product growth,” said Alliance President and CEO Matt Ballard.

“The Alliance is keenly aware this is an area needed for growth. That’s why we are working together to move the needle on technology progress along with our partners at the Chemical Alliance Zone, MATRIC, TechConnect WV, the WV Angel Investors Network and others.”

The Alliance acknowledges the hard work of all five counties, all the businesses within and community leaders that have helped our MSA achieve new levels of success.

We are confident that the efforts of our elected officials, community leaders and the Alliance to create jobs, enhance our community and invest in people, will help Charleston continue to climb the list.

Working together, the best is yet to come!

If you’re looking for ways to garner new customers and revenue and want to explore the benefits of exporting your products outside the U.S, the Charleston Area Alliance is here to help.

Use the Alliance’s 2012 Trade Mission and tools from the U.S Commercial Services to help increase exporting opportunities through assistance with the identification of and entering key emerging markets.

Explore three European countries in this dynamic trade mission with other Alliance members. Travel for business reasons, or if you choose, just for the cultural experience.

Click HERE for the trip brochure.

Learn more at the next business mission/cultural tour informational meeting on Monday, Jan. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Alliance offices
at 1116 Smith Street.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Jeri Adkins at JAdkins@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org or by calling 304-340-4253.

Since the trade missions began in 2010, more than 100 business and community leaders from the Charleston area have participated.

For the European tour, the Alliance will continue attracting new foreign direct investment and job creation to West Virginia, as well as schedule specific business to business meetings that will benefit your export strategy.

If you plan to travel with the Alliance in 2012 for business purposes, we encourage you contact the Alliance staff as soon as possible. This ensures that specific meetings with potential partners can be scheduled in advance of travel.

It will also give attendees a better understanding of what European businesses are looking for when they expand into the U.S market.

Please join fellow Charleston Area Alliance members and friends as we journey together to Budapest, Vienna and Prague next spring.

Here’s just a sampling of the feedback from attendees of previous tours:

“You organized a wonderful trip that went flawlessly! The trip was incredible and the group was fantastic!”  

“We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to make new acquaintances and new friends.” 

“The trip was fabulous! We can’t stop talking about it.”

“It was a fantastic trip, and I don’t know how it could have gone any better.” 

“Thank you all for making this special trip such a delightful experience.”