Media Release

1:15 p.m.

ALACHUA COUNTY - Close on the heels of winning back-to back national championships in college football and basketball, Gainesville/Alachua County Metro Area has achieved another number one title as “Top Metropolitan Area out of 400 throughout the U.S. and Canada,” according to Wiley Publishing.  The New Jersey-based publishers officially announced that Gainesville/Alachua County received the top ranking out of 375 U.S. cities as well as 27 Canadian cities and was featured in the second of edition of their "Cities Ranked & Rated.'

"We have certainly enjoyed the spotlight generated by the Gators championships and it is incredibly rewarding for us to receive recognition as a great place to live, work and play all in the same year!" said Roland Loog, executive director of the Alachua County/Gainesville Visitors Bureau.

The comprehensive 850-page reference guide, written by nationally acclaimed business writers and authors Bert Sperling and Peter Sandler, provides a comparative as well as a subjective analysis of each city based on 10 categories of: economy and jobs; cost of living; climate, education, Health & Healthcare; Crime rates; transportation; leisure; arts and culture; and quality of life.

"This is certainly an affirmation of Gainesville & Alachua County’s commitment to our master plan of managed growth and conscientious development," said Loog. "This area continues to emerge as a diverse crossroads offering an array of nature, historic and cultural-based attractions, events, festivals, and museums for our more than 247,000 citizens and our estimated 8 million visitors alike,"said Loog.

For additional information go to the Alachua County/Gainesville VCB website at: www.visitgainesville.com or phone 352/374-5260

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