According to Austin Biz Journals, the annual list of best cities for college graduates was recently released by Bloomberg Businessweek, and Austin achieved the number five position. In all, the list include 30 of the top cities for recent grads to live. Factors that were taken into consideration when developing the list included the average annual pay, the unemployment rate, the cost of living and the number of entry-level employers the cities had listed in AfterCollege Data.

Although Austin didn’t make this particular list last year, the city’s economic stability throughout these recent financial troubles helped it land such a high position on this year’s list. According to the report, Austin had 33 entry level employers offering an average annual salary of $45,180. Furthermore, the city’s employment rate hit 7.4%, which is still on the high side for the city, but is far less than the national average.

The complete top ten cities included on this list were:

• Houston, Texas
• Washington, D.C.
• Dallas, Texas
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Austin, Texas
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Denver, Colorado
• Columbus, Ohio
• Ft. Worth, Texas

With Texas cities grabbing four of the top ten spots, the state is clearly one that should be put at the top of any recent graduate’s list. According to a separate article published by Entrepreneur.com, the same is true for those who are interested in starting their own business.

According to this list, which identified the 50 cities that are best at promoting the pursuits of entrepreneurs, Austin is the most proactive and progressive entrepreneurial center in the country. More specifically, the city was recognized for its commerce, its emerging technology culture and its innovative spirit.

Already, Austin is home to a number of start-up companies with bright futures ahead of them. Inn addition, many successful business endeavors started in Austin. For example, Twitter first announced its micro blog model at Austin’s South-by-Southwest Interactive conference. Furthermore, successful companies such as LegalZoon, Facebook, Inc. and Host Gator LLC have all announced plans for offices in the capital city. Just this year alone, the city has seen 31 relocations and expansions within the technology-related sector along.

“Austin is a magnet for talent and a leader in innovation, which makes it an ideal location to grow your business,” said Kevin Johns, who is the director of the Austin Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office.

The top five cities included on this list were:

• Austin, Texas
• Brooklyn, New York
• Seattle, Washington
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Providence, Rhode Island

With national recognitions such as these, it is no wonder residents of Steiner Ranch are so proud to call Austin home.

When conducting the survey, Relocation.com tallied the responses from 1,000 participants, all of whom responded during the month of June. In addition to finding that more people are interested in moving to Texas than before, the survey also found that fewer Americans are deciding to move due to foreclosure issues. Furthermore, 4% of the respondents said they were now able to purchase a home for the first time because of the drop in real estate prices. Furthermore, 10% of respondents said they were interested in moving into a bigger home or into a home located in a better neighborhood.
Of course, for residents of Steiner Ranch, the fact that more people are interested in moving to Texas or into Austin doesn’t come as much of a surprise. In addition to the relatively steady housing market and unemployment rates, the capital city is regularly taking steps to improve upon itself and what it has to offer to its residents. For example, Austin Community College recently developed a training program specifically designed for utility line workers in an attempt to address a “growing need” within this sector.

The new program, which will result in an applied science associate’s degree, will train those who are interested in working as line workers. As such, the program will include training in how to use heavy machinery such as cranes and cherry pickers as well as how to install underground power lines, overhead power lines, streetlights and transformers. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the need for skilled individuals in this area will increase by 20% from 2006 to 2016 and the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average hourly wage of line workers is $20.23, which amounts to about $42,080 per year. Individuals who are interested in this program need to be able to carry at least 50 pounds, have a clean driving record and be comfortable with heights.

As might be expected, this isn’t the first time Bumpus has taken on a leadership position. In fact, he oversaw 40 campuses and 51,000 students while employed as the system president for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System for six years. In addition, he led a $5 million initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as he worked toward developing construction trades centers in Louisiana after the area had been devastated by hurricane Katrina.

“Walter has been tested over and over as a leader, and he has consistently risen to every challenge,” said the current president of AACC, George R. Boggs. “He brings both intellect and experiences to the leadership of AACC, and he has a deep commitment to community colleges and the people they serve.”

In addition to taking on leadership positions within the educational community, Bumphus has also filled numerous leadership roles within the private sector that were related to education. For example, he served as the president for Voyater’s Expanded Learning and worked as a consultant for over 100 institutions throughout 26 different states as well as in Canada and Puerto Rico. Within this role, he assisted with designing student development programs, with developing technology in student services and designing instructional strategies to be used with high-risk students.
Reportedly, Bumphus is already making big plans in terms of molding the future of the community colleges that are involved with the association, particularly as community colleges respond to criticisms regarding their relatively low graduation rates.

“There has never been a brighter spotlight, and flashlight, on community colleges than today, but community colleges have never been better than they are today. We’re starting to become a community of colleges that are focused on a culture of evidence, truly looking at performance, and I am convinced that we are moving the needle in terms of student success,” said Bumphus. “Do we have more work to do? Absolutely yes. Some colleges have been stuck on ‘good.’ But we’re on a pathway to most colleges becoming truly, truly great institutions.”

Thanks to the troubled state of the economy, a large number of Texans are deciding to take their vacations in their home state. In fact, 40% of those surveyed said they were planning to stay in Texas, compared to 35% from the previous year and 28% from the year before.

“Travelers who booked trips for this summer have tended to focus more on getting the most value for their money,” said Rhonda Wilson, who is the vice president and general manager of AAA Texas, in an Austin Biz Journals article. “However, right now we are seeing people who are more willing to come in and book more expensive ‘dream trips’ for the future beyond this summer, which is a signal that they are feeling more optimistic about their economic situations.”

For those who are choosing to stay close to home, San Antonio is the number one vacation destination among Texans, followed by Austin and then Dallas. With all that Austin has to offer, it is no surprise that the capital city ranks so highly on the list. In fact, despite the country’s economic troubles, Austin continues to grow and to expand its options to travelers. In fact, a new 103 room Hilton Garden Inn has recently opened in nearby New Braunfels. Located on I-35 North between San Antonio and Austin, the new inn is in the perfect location for travelers who want to enjoy the top two destinations in the state. It is also located within only minutes of the Comal and Guadalupe rivers, Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Natural Bridge Caverns.

Austin also has much to offer to those who want to stick around for awhile, as its University of Texas was recently selecting as having the best “status and prestige” of all of the graduate schools in the state. The University of Texas received this honor after Decision Analyst, which is a consultancy service based in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, asked 2,160 Texans to select from among 51 graduate programs. When asked which schools they thought were the most prestigious, the University of Texas came out on top, followed by Rice University, Texas A&M and Southern Methodist University.
Although the survey was meant to determine the reputation and brand image of the schools rather than analyzing each program, it just goes to show how highly regarded the city and its schools really are.

“The brand image of the graduate business school and the brand image of the parent institution are entangled – each is influencing the other,” said Jerry W. Thomas, who the president and CEO of Decision Analyst, in an Austin Biz Journals article.

The accolades for the capital city didn’t end there, however, as Austin also came in second on the Forbes list of “most innovative” cities. Factors that were considered when determining this ranking included venture capital investments per capita, patients per person, and the ratio of high-tech, science and otherwise “creative” jobs. According to the report, Austin had about 2,900 patient filings during the year, with Austin and Round Rock averaging about 2 and 1.7 patents per every thousand residents over the past year. This full top ten list included:

• San Jose, California
• Austin, Texas
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• San Francisco, California
• Seattle, Washington
• San Diego, California
• Madison, Wisconsin
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Provo, Utah
• Portland, Oregon

Despite these honors, perhaps the most impressive recognition came from Kiplinger, which selected Austin as the number one best city to live in over the next ten years. According to the report, the city earned the number one position for several reasons, including its numerous music venues, parks, lakes, job creation opportunities and unique business climate. Ultimately, the report said the city was “arguably the country’s best crucible for small business.”
Robert Frick, who is the Senior Editor for Kiplinger went on to say that, “Creativity in music, arts and culture, plus neighborhoods and recreational facilities that rank high for ‘coolness,’ attract like-minded professionals who go on to cultivate a region’s business scene.”

The full top ten list includes:

• Austin, Texas
• Seattle, Washington
• Washington D.C.
• Boulder, Colorado
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Rochester, Minnesota
• Des Moines, Iowa
• Burlington, Vermont
• West Hartford, Connecticut
• Topeka, Kansas

According to DogFriendly.com, which is the self-proclaimed “leading provider of nationwide city guides and travel guides for dog owners,” Austin is the third most dog-friendly city in the country. When determining its rankings, the dog-centered Website considered a number of different factors. These included opportunities for dog owners to vist stores, to enjoy a meal at restaurant, to take advantage of transportaion and to spend time at parks with their dogs.

Austin managed to land the number three position for a number of reasons. Of course, the city’s numerous courtyard coffee shops and cafes are among the main reasons the city is so attractive to dog owners. In fact, the Website specifically mentioned the overwhelming dog-friendly places to dine in Austin. The 12 off-leash dog parks coupled with the dog-friendly Zilker Botanical Gardens and Freddie’s Place are just a few more reasons why Austin is such a great city for dog lovers.

For residents of Steiner Ranch, knowing that there are so many excellent dog-friendly opportunities located nearby is certainly quite conforting. After all, who doesn’t enjoy spending some time out and about with their beloved pet? If you are looking to spend some time in the city, you don’t have to leave your pooch behind.

Interestingly, Austin was the only Texas city to make the top 10 list, though San Antonio did receive an honorary mention. It should be noted, however, that central Texas is also the home of many businesses that rely on keeping dogs and their owners happy. In fact, DogBoy’s Dog Ranch has been located in the area for quite some time and both the Shoo tag maker Energetic Solutions LLC and the recently started gourmet pet food maker Nulo Inc are also found in central Texas.

The complete top ten list includes:

• San Diego, California – noted for having the best dog beaches in the country
• Portland, Oregon – offers numerous dog-friendly gardens and parks
• Austin, Texas – noted for its many off-leash parks and outdoor cafes
• Northern Virginia – offers a cruise just for dogs and access to numerous dog-friendly monuments
• San Francisco, California – home to many off-leash beaches as well as dog-friendly dining and shopping opportunities
• Boston, Massachusetts – features boat and subway transportation opportunities as well as many pet-friendly hotels
• Orlando, Florida – noted for its boat tour, pet-friendly resort, concerts and dining opportunities
• Salt Lake City, Utah – home to dog-friendly historical parks and amusement parks
• Charleston, South Carolina – features beaches, tours and plantations that are welcoming to dogs
• New York, New York – outdoor dining, shopping, off-leash parks and dog-friendly luxury hotels can be found in New York

It’s not just the residents of Steiner Ranch who believe Austin is a great place to live. In fact, the city has been listed at the top of numerous lists, including being ranked as the third best place to move to by RelocateAmerica.com.

In order to determine their rankings, RelocateAmerica.com analyzed feedback from users of the site while also gathering a variety of information from a number of different cities. Some of the data that was gathered includes environmental, crime, housing, education, employment and economic statistics. The company also interviewed residents from the various cities that were considered. In the end, Austin ranked in the third position behind Huntsville, Alabama and Washington D.C.

This RelocateAmerica.com survey isn’t the only one where Austin ranked in a top position. In fact, the capital city also took the number two position on the Website’s “America’s Top 100 Places to Live for 2010″ report. To develop this list, the Website considered the impact the recession had on the area as well as its likelihood to enjoy a swift recovery. Huntsville, Alabama took the first place position on this list as well.

While Huntsville, Alabama may have had a slight edge on Austin when it comes to the best places to relocate and to the best places to live in 2010, it doesn’t come close to comparing to the eco-friendliness of the city. In fact, Austin was ranked as the fifth most eco-friendly city in the country, with Portland, Oregon taking the number one position, followed by Boston, Massachusetts, then Madison, Wisconsin and, finally, Boulder Colorado.

In order to be considered one of the areas in the country to have experienced a “relatively low” decline in employment, the area had to experience a decline of less than 2%. With Austin experiencing a 1% decline, the area posted the fourth smallest decline within the nation’s top 100 markets. Overall, the area reported 5,900 fewer private-sector jobs in February 2010 than it posted in February 2009.

The 14 areas to have a loss of less than 2% include

· Augusta, Georgia – a drop of 0.36%
· McAllen-Edinburg, Texas – a drop of 0.92%
· New Orleans, Louisiana – a drop of 0.96%
· Austin, Texas – a drop of 1.00%
· Charleston, South Carolina – a drop of 1.02%
· Columbia, South Carolina – a drop of 1.16%
· New Haven, Connecticut – a drop of 1.33%
· Buffalo, New York – a drop of 1.51%
· Washington – a drop of 1.58%
· Honolulu, Hawaii – a drop of 1.69%
· Baton Rouge, Louisiana – a drop of 1.71%
· Virginia Beach-Norfolk – a drop of 1.80%
· Syracuse, New York – a drop of 1.91%
· Poughkeepsie, New York – a drop of 1.97%

On the other end of the spectrum, Wichita, Kansas came in at the bottom of the list with a loss of 16,700 jobs, which amounted to a 6.49% drop in the area’s unemployment rate. Akron, Ohio; Las Vegas, Nevada; Riverside-San Bernardino, California; and Birmingham, Alabama round out the bottom five.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the unemployment rate in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area increased to 7.6% during the month of January, but it fell to 7.2% in February. Although this is still high when compared to February of 2009, which the unemployment rate was 6.6%, it is still low when compared to the rest of the state as well as the national average. In fact, the statewide unemployment rate was 8.2% in February while the national unemployment rate sat at 9.7%.

In the Austin area, the transportation, trade and utilities sectors lost about 4,000 jobs when compared year-to-year, making it the industry where the greatest number of non-agriculture jobs was lost. The manufacturing industry, on the other hand, lost 2,900 jobs while the leisure and hospitality industry added the most jobs with a growth of 5,000 positions.

In addition to enjoying a lower unemployment rate when compared to the rest of the state and the nation, Steiner Ranch residents are also seeing their incomes increase despite the current economic troubles. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers who lived in the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area earned an average of $20.59 during the month of May 2009. In May 2008, the average hourly income for residents came in at $19.92. Those who worked on a full-time basis earned an average of $22.02 while part-time workers averaged $10.45 per hour. When broken down by industry, workers earned the following wages:

· Health care practitioners and technical occupations – $29.13 per hour
· Office and administrative support personnel – $15.98 per hour
· Food preparers and servers – $8.55 per hour
· Restaurant cooks – $9.93 per hour

The Bureau also found that those who worked for companies that employed 1-99 employees earned an average of $17.15, while those who were employed by companies with 100-499 workers earned $18.18 per hour and those who worked for companies that employed 500 people or more earned an average of $26.67 per hour.

Throughout the state, 32 public schools, governmental entities, public hospitals, universities, public colleges and government-owned utilities received funding through the competitive grant program. The Austin organizations that received funding include:

· Austin Community College – received $1,594,370 in funding, which will be used to install two grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems at the Eastview Campus and the Northridge Campus. Photovoltaic systems are capable of converting solar radiation into direct current electricity. The new system will help the college save a significant amount of money in terms of energy cost.
· Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – the Austin headquarters for the department received $986,986, which will be used to install a 92 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system. The agency estimates the new system will help the department save about $17,500 per year in energy costs while also significantly reducing the number of megawatts used by the headquarters each year.
· Department of Texas Military Forces – the Camp Mabry facility in Austin received about $1 million to install solar panels on a carport that is located next to the camp headquarters.

The nearby city of Sunset Valley also received funding through the competitive grant program. In fact, the city received $141,000 to go toward the installation of solar panels in the city hall building.

The commitment to eco-friendly design and showcasing the beauty of nature is nothing new to Steiner Ranch residents. In fact, Steiner Ranch received “Best Master-Planned Community” honors from Austin Business Journal in 2004 due to its commitment to maintaining its natural surroundings. With the homes designed to make full use out of the natural light, residents can keep their energy costs low while still enjoying the many amenities the community and its homes have to offer.