If you follow the local economy and business sector then this won't come as a shock to you, but Pennsylvania has been named the top state in the country in 2008 for building its biotech industry, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
This honor comes from Business Facilities Magazine's 2008 Rankings Report. Of course, this isn't ALL because of Pittsburgh. It is a statewide ranking and Philly is also a biotech powerhouse. The combination of two strong biotech markets in the state helped us beat out California, Massachusetts and Texas as well as every other state.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Pittsburgh one of few cities where hotel industry has been growing
In another story about Pittsburgh defying nationwide downtrends, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the local hotel industry is growing rapidly while the industry in other markets is receding.
The Post-Gazette reports that in addition to an explosion in new hotel properties being built locally, demand for hotel rooms in Pittsburgh is rising as well. The PG quoted Smith Travel Research as saying that of the 100 largest cities in the country, only 11 saw their hotel occupancy rates rise. Pittsburgh was one of those. Pittsburgh had the ninth highest increase in occupancy rates at 1.3 percent.
This coincides with previous reports documenting the increase in tourism to Pittsburgh and the good reviews it gets from national travel writers (read my two recent posts about good travel reviews from The New York Times and USA Today).
The Post-Gazette reports that in addition to an explosion in new hotel properties being built locally, demand for hotel rooms in Pittsburgh is rising as well. The PG quoted Smith Travel Research as saying that of the 100 largest cities in the country, only 11 saw their hotel occupancy rates rise. Pittsburgh was one of those. Pittsburgh had the ninth highest increase in occupancy rates at 1.3 percent.
This coincides with previous reports documenting the increase in tourism to Pittsburgh and the good reviews it gets from national travel writers (read my two recent posts about good travel reviews from The New York Times and USA Today).
Need a job? Come to Pittsburgh
OK, time to throw out the old perceptions and look at reality. While the economy in the rest of the nation takes a tumble, Pittsburgh's economy continues to stay stable. It's been reported many times that the Pittsburgh housing market bucks all of the downward trends nationally, but the numbers show the Pittsburgh job market is healthier than most as well.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that in June the Pittsburgh region added 5,600 jobs, the fifth consecutive month of job gains in the region. That compares with over 463,000 jobs lost nationally since the beginning of the year. Although the job creation is still small, it is better than 16 of the top 40 regions.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that in June the Pittsburgh region added 5,600 jobs, the fifth consecutive month of job gains in the region. That compares with over 463,000 jobs lost nationally since the beginning of the year. Although the job creation is still small, it is better than 16 of the top 40 regions.
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