Helena ranked high for strength of its economy

The Helena economy continues to be strong, at least by the annual measure of one national consulting firm.

Policom, a Florida firm that authors an annual ranking of the economic strength of cities across the country, placed Helena ninth among 574 micropolitan statistical areas, or cities/regions with populations between 10,000 and 50,000. Helena ranked 13th in the firm's Economic Strength Rankings a year ago, and has placed anywhere from seventh and 37th over the past several years.

According to the firm's Web site, ";The economic strength rankings are created so Policom can study the characteristics of strong and weak economies. The highest ranked areas have had rapid, consistent growth in both size and quality for an extended period of time. The lowest ranked areas have been in volatile decline for an extended period of time."

The study looks at wages across several sectors of the economy, as well as the number of people receiving various forms of public assistance.

The study rewards steady growth, which has long been a hallmark of our area's government-heavy economy. Boom-and-bust cities are difficult places to conduct business over the long term, the company says.

Bozeman ranks sixth this year, its highest ranking in the past five years, though the city has ranked in the top 10 every year over that time.

Movin' on up: Meanwhile, another study, this one studying moving trends, suggests Montana is still a popular destination for Americans looking to relocate.

Over the past six moths, United Van Lines, one of the country's largest moving companies, says that of the 526 total shipments the company had to or from Montana, 54.9 percent were inbound, ranking the Treasure State 11th in terms of net migration percentage.

The District of Columbia was the top inbound destination over the first half of the year, at 63.6 percent. Several Western states remain popular with people on the move, including Oregon in second (59.3 percent), Nevada fourth (57.7) and Wyoming fifth (57.5).

Meanwhile, Americans continued their decades-long exodus from the Great Lakes region. Michigan was the top outbound state, with 70 percent of the firm's moves going away from the state. Illinois (58.3 percent outbound) and Indiana (57.2) also ranked in the top five.

No Money: Finally, Helena also appeared on Money Magazine's annual list of America's 100 Best Small Towns -- but it ain't us. Checking in at No. 90 on that list, which didn't include a single Montana town: Helena, Ala. (pop. 14,200).

Hey, you can't win them all.

E-mail your Open for Business ideas to john.harrington@

helenair.com.