Awards & Recognitions

• Spokane One of the Friendliest Policy Environments at State Level for Entrepreneurship
  Spokane ranks #4 in this 2005 award by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council.
• Spokane One of Best Washington Cities for Business
  Seattle Business Monthly has choosen Spokane as #5 in their Best Washington State Cities for Business.
• Spokane One of the Top Logistics-Friendly Cities in the US
  Spokane ranks #163 in the Top Logistics-Friendly Cities in the US by Logistics Today.
• Spokane One of Top Midsize Cities for Entrepreneurs
  Entrepreneuer.com has chosen Spokane as #16 in the Top Midsize Cities for Entrepreneurs.
• Spokane One of Best Cities for Young People
  America’s Promise Alliance Names Spokane Region One of 100 Best Communities for Young People.

Read On!

• #16 in Best Walking Cities in the United States - American Podiatric Medical Assoc, 2005
• #5 in Safest Cities in the United States - Forbes Magazine, 2005
• #63 in America's Brainiest Metropolitan Area Ranking - Biz Journals, 2005
• Second in Medical & Emergency Technology amont 127 MSAs - Popular Science, 2005
• Fifth Most Walkable City among cities with less than 200,000 population - Prevention Magazine, 2005
• One of the 50 Best Places to Live - Men's Journal, 2005
• #35 in 150 Best Places for Doing Business in America, Inc. Magazine, 2005
• #114 Best Places for Business & Careers, Forbes, 2005
• "5 Star" Quality of Life distinction, Expansion Management, 2005
• Blue Ribbon awards for Spokane School Districts that are amonth the top 33% of 2800 school districts nationwide, Expansion Management, 2005
• Ninth Best City for Lifestyle for Women, Ladies Home Journal, 2005
• "Preserve America Community", Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, 2005
• 2004 All-America City Award by the National Civic League
• 55th Best Performing Cities for economic performance and growth in technology jobs and wages, Milken Institute's 2004
• Spokane Launches Largest WiFi Hot Zone in Nation (June, 2004)
• Second most "kid friendly" of large cities in the U.S. (Population Connection, 2004)
• Leads the state in historic rehabilitation: total investment of over $27.3 million in Spokane, while developers in all other cities combined spent $30.3 million (2002, State Historic Preservation Office; see article in Spokane Historic Preservation Office newsletter)
• Named one of seven Intelligent Communities worldwide for 2003--the only U.S. city to be named (Intelligent Community Forum, 2003)
• "Tree City USA" (National Arbor Day Foundation, 2004)
• Nishinomiya Garden at Manito Park one of North America's top 25 Japanese Gardens (Journal of Japanese Gardening)
• Ranked no. 6 in Entrepreneur and D&B's 10th Annual Best Cities for Entrepreneurs - Top Midsize Cities in the West 2003
• Ranked 41st Healthy City (Organic Style Magazine)
• Ranked no. 2 in the nation for temperate summer weather (Custom Weather, 2001)
• Named one of the top 10 family-friendly U.S. cities (Family Fun magazine, 2000)
• One of 15 Top Dream Towns where baby boomers can "reinvent"' themselves (AARP, 2003)
• Ranked #91 Best Place for Business & Careers (Forbes, 2004; up from #100 in 2003 and #162 in 2001)
• Provides “high level of service” in planning & executing meetings (Meeting News, 2003)
• "Most Wired" hospitals in the U.S. (Hospitals and Health Networks Magazine, 2002)
• #16 out of 101 Best Cities for Men (Men’s Health Magazine, 2002)
• One of America's 50 cities that sizzle (America's Restaurant News, 2000 & 2001; scroll down on linked page)

These are just a few of the recognitions and awards Spokane has received - come see for yourself why Spokane is one of the best places to live, work and play!