While metro areas across the nation struggled with stagnant economies caused by the pandemic, Pueblo was vaulting its way up the list of 2021Â Best Performing Cities.
Released by the Milken Institute Center for Regional Economics, the list saw Pueblo ranking higher through a combination of increased connectivity, innovation, planning and business support.Â
The Milken Instituteâs annual index ranks economic vitality in 200 large metropolitan areas and 201 small metro areas, measuring job creation, wage growth, and innovation industry metrics. Housing affordability and broadband access were added as criteria this year, to better reflect the inclusiveness of local economies. For the first time, metro areas were grouped into five tiers, allowing policymakers, business leaders and residents to more easily compare economic performance among equivalent cities.