From the Foundation for Child Development…
“A Child’s Well-Being Is Strongly Related to the State Where He or She Lives. Child well-being varies tremendously from state to state, ranging from a 0.85 index value for New Jersey, the highest ranked state, to a negative 0.96 index value for New Mexico, the lowest-ranked state.”
From the Des Moines Register….
“A proposed 500-acre development in Ankeny could provide the growing school district with space for athletic facilities and offer more fields for area recreation programs, but public officials say they cannot move forward without more information….
The plan calls for a football stadium and Olympic-sized swimming pool as part of a 150-acre sports complex that would be surrounded by 12 million square feet of commercial development.”
From Forbes Magazine….
10.7% of workforce
4,480 workers employed
In this March 10, 2011, photo Iowa State University researcher Lois Wright Morton is seen in a lab at Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. Wright Morton is leading one of three new major USDA-funded research projects on the effects of climate change on agricultural and forest production.
Hunziker & Associates, REALTORS is pleased to announce our new special promotion. From now through January 31st, purchase an eligible Hunziker & Associates listing through a participating lender, and receive a rebate of up to $1500 in closing costs!
Ames continues to post unemployment rates at about half the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics currently lists Ames in a tie for the 7th lowest rate in the nation.
Interestingly enough, the Ames real estate market also continues to hold steady, with the average sale price almost identical to last year. Most of the metros listed for high unemployment rates are also the ones making news for high foreclosure rates and falling home prices.
Perhaps those of us in the industry should be quicker to comment upon hearing “the #1 rule of real estate” quoted. The reason that location, location, location matters, is due largely to the jobs, jobs, jobs.
http://bls.gov/web/metro/laummtrk.htm
Post by Tabitha Zesch, Relocation Director
The Festival of Trees sponsored by the Parks and Rec Department at Gates Hall, feature a tree from our Nevada office. Their display was awarded 2nd place!
Also, our appreciation goes out to Sherri Smith and Donna Borton, agents in our Nevada office, for helping their community by volunteering as bell ringers this holiday season!
Ames has attracted many high tech companies and start-ups over the last few years, many of which are located in the Iowa State University Research Park. Businesses from around the U.S., and even overseas, have relocated to Story County within the last few years.
The dramatic growth drew the governor and lieutenant governor to speak at the Ames Economic Development Commission celebration this week. And Ames has been touted by numerous magazines lately as one of the best places to do business, get a job, retire, or raise kids, etc. In August, Ames was labeled one of the geekiest cities in the U.S. by Forbes.
Now Business Insider Magazine is including Ames and Story County, Iowa on their list of 20 U.S. markets with the potential to become the next Silicon Valley. Certainly, as more high-tech jobs are established, the more the area becomes attractive to companies in need of a similar workforce base.
Post by Tabitha Zesch, Relocation Director
To those who served, for those who continue to serve, and to the families of our veterans who have sacrificed more than many will ever know-thank you.
Thank you to those at Hunziker & Associates, Realtors who donated time or money to the Meals from the Heartland event in Boone. Over 750 volunteers packed 180,000 + meals for third world food relief over the weekend!
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