Phoenix Places 2nd on SAFEST-CITIES List...

Phoenix places second on safest-cities list, from the Phoenix Business Journal, reports that the Valley ranks as the second-safest major metropolitan area in which to conduct business and avoid major natural disasters and terrorism. The new survey by Risk & Insurance magazine and AIR Worldwide Corp. ranked the safety of major U.S. cities based on their susceptibility to major business disruptions such as weather disturbances, earthquakes and terrorism. Sacramento came in first, followed by Phoenix, Rochester, N.Y., Columbus, OH and Buffalo, N.Y. Phoenix area economic developers and business leaders have for many years touted Arizona's lack of natural disasters and other major business disruptions as a top reason for businesses to locate in the Valley and not California, Florida or colder climates. Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) President and Chief Executive Barry Broome says that makes Arizona an attractive location for technology firms and data center operations that need to avoid interruptions. "The impact from hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Southeast, as well as interruptions from winter storms, position Arizona as an attractive place to do business," he said. This survey bodes well for our real estate market as jobs and population growth are what will fuel our real estate market now and into the future .

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/01/02/daily6.html?t=printable