AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Exciting news for Amarillo and it's economic outlook. The city has been ranked #16 in this year's "Best Performing Cities Index" nationwide. That's a 19 number jump from the city being ranked 35 last year. The Milken Institute puts out the rankings. It ranks cities based on job, wage and technology performance over a 5 year period.
City commissioner Dr. Brian Eades said he's not surprised by the news.
"Organizations like the Amarillo Economic Development Counsel, the AEDC, has worked for years to diversify our economy. We've moved out into aerospace, we're doing fiberglass production, we're doing food service, we're doing food production so we're diversified not only wind but now the oil fields are coming back and so we see nothing but very positive things on the horizon. "
Eades also said he want to see Amarillo's economy continue to shine.
"As we grow we're going to find that we need more employees in this area, call your friends and family in New Mexico call.... let's get some new faces into town lets get some new employees lets show them the opportunities that exist and lets get our economy moving even better than it has been."
When it comes to 1-year Wages and Salaries Growth Amarillo is ranked second according to the study, compared to Lubbock's ranking of 13. Lubbock was ranked 24 overall.
