Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City has experienced tremendous economic growth over the past 20 years. It is no wonder the city was honored host of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. It was a natural choice, taking special advantage of the world-class skiing available just 30 minutes from downtown. But besides the boost to the local economy that the Olympic Games provided, Salt Lake City is booming, with one of the highest concentrations of biomedical, high-tech and software firms in the country.

As new businesses move in and established businesses grow, downtown property values continue to climb. The total commercial valuation of downtown has increased from $700 million in 1991 to almost $1.4 billion in 2001. Twenty-six construction projects are underway downtown, with just 10 of those reporting a combined cost of over $735 million. This is not only beneficial for these businesses but also for the residents of Salt Lake City.

There's quite a lot to see and do in Salt Lake City, from researching your family's history using the largest collection of genealogical data in the world to taking a dinner cruise on the Great Salt Lake. The architecture downtown is unique, with the Capitol Building and Historic Temple Square illustrating the city's role as the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Within a day's drive are 10 national parks, and right in the heart of the city is access to three pro teams: the Utah Jazz, Grizzlies and Buzz. For people who love to ski, Salt Lake City is the place to be. Ten major ski resorts, six cross-country areas, and the nation's only recreational ski jumping complex are all within one hour from downtown.

If Salt Lake City sounds appealing, consider that the area has a very reasonable cost of living index and housing prices hover around the national average. Moreover, the area has a highly respected educational system, with three Division I universities within 30 miles. All of this combined with the projected economic outlook makes Salt Lake City the perfect place to call home.

KEY EMPLOYERS: State of Utah; University of Utah; Hill Air Force Base; Granite School District; Jordan School District; Utah State University; Davis School District; Salt Lake County; Alpine School District; United Parcel Service; Iomega; IRS; Convergys; Intermountain Health Care; Pacific Corp (Utah Power); Wells Fargo Bank; Zions Bank; Qwest Communications; Deseret Management; Alcoa, Inc.; Questar Corp.; Kinross Gold USA; Newspaper Agency Corp.