Metro Denver ranked third-best metro for business

Metro Denver ranked as the third-best metro area for business in 2008, according to a study released Dec. 2, 2008 by MarketWatch, a division of Dow Jones’ Consumer Media Group. Minneapolis-St. Paul and Boston took the No. 1 and 2 spots, respectively.

MarketWatch evaluated the 50 largest metro areas, looking at criteria including the number of companies on four lists, including Fortune 1000, Forbes, S&P 500, and the Russell 2000. The companies were counted then averaged against a metro area’s population.

Metro Denver tallied 297 points in the study, with three companies being added to the Forbes list of private companies: First Data Corp., Pro-Build Holdings, and MWH.

Rounding out the top 10 were Washington, D.C.; Richmond, VA; Charlotte, NC; Columbus, Ohio; Nashville; Dallas; and San Francisco.

MarketWatch operates a financial information website that provides business news, analysis, and stock market data to some 6 million people. MarketWatch offers personal finance news and advice, tools for investors,  and access to industry research.