U.S. Conference of Mayors releases Metro Economies Report Minneapolis and Twin Cities Metro Area ranks 12th in nation in GMP July 12, 2001 (Minneapolis, MN)-Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton today announced that according to a US Conference of Mayor (USCM) Report released Tuesday, Minneapolis and the Twin Cities Metro Area ranks 12th out of 319 US metro areas in Gross Metropolitan Product (GMP). (Gross Metropolitan Product is a concept analogous to Gross Domestic Product, the commonly accepted measure nations use to calculate the total annual value of goods and services they have produced.) The only other Midwestern city ranked in the top 12 was Chicago, which was ranked third. The report, "U.S. Metro Economies: The Engines of America's Growth, A Decade of Prosperity," affirms that U.S. metro regions are the engines of the national economy, providing nearly 85 percent of employment, gross national product and labor income in the year 2000. The high ranking given Minneapolis and the Twin Cities Metro Area reaffirms the strength of the core cities as the economic center of the region. "I'm pleased that this report documents what we already know: that the Minneapolis economy is strong and that our efforts to revitalize neighborhoods, create jobs, and strengthen downtown have paid off," said Mayor Sayles Belton. "Minneapolis is a city that works because we've made wise investments driven by strong strategic planning. That we have maintained our Triple-A credit rating for 29 years is no accident. It takes strong leadership to build a strong city." According to the USCM there are six keys to keeping cities competitive. Each of these key factors reflect the priorities and accomplishments of Mayor Sayles Belton: * Safe streets and communities; * A skilled workforce; * The arts, as both a cultural/educational and economic force in communities; * Strong infrastructure; * Good, affordable housing; and * Strong economies. Copies of the full report, charts, and graphs can be found on the USCM website at www.usmayors.org. The USCM is the official organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. Mayor Sayles Belton serves as a Trustee for the US Conference of Mayors. _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
