From Judy Hedding,
Your Guide to Phoenix.
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The City of Tempe has been rated as the fourth best place to live and work in America by BestJobsUSA.com in their 2002 survey.

BestJobsUSA.com is the website for Employment Review, a 40,000 circulation monthly magazine that is nationally distributed to human resources professionals and is sold at major bookstore chains such as Barnes and Noble. The magazine launched about 20 years ago. This is its eighth annual contest.

"We researched about 300 cities, looking at the diversity of industry, the unemployment rate, as well as the overall quality of life. Tempe is an outstanding city," spokesperson Sheri Pfeil said.

Tempe placed fourth in the survey, after Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, Madison, Wis., and Huntsville, Ala. Tempe's Central Valley location, its thriving technology industry, educational institutions, the great mix of quality business - many with household name recognition, and the abundance of recreational and cultural events were noted as high points for the city.

"Tempe has placed great value on maintaining its destination status," Mayor Neil Giuliano said. Recreational amenities such as Town Lake, retail and entertainment opportunities, such as those along Mill Avenue, and major events like Tempe's annual Fourth of July and Fiesta Bowl New Year's Eve Celebrations all add to a quality of life that attracts highly sought after corporations and the new creative class of knowledge workers."

The Tempe Economic Development Department will continue to follow the same path that has led to this kind of accolade, according to department manager Jan Schaefer. High technology companies, along with a strong retail base and a dynamic, active lifestyle are key to maintaining Tempe's successful urban atmosphere.