CNN reported on the 100 best places to live and launch a new business.  Some of the areas of interest include: Iowa City-21, Minneapolis-23, Fargo-24, Sioux Falls-45, Rochester-53, and St Cloud-75.

I am wondering what anyone else's thoughts are on best places to live and launch a business are in the tri-state area (ND, MN and SD).

Personally, I agree Sioux Falls and Fargo should be among the list.  They have excellent business climates and are at critical mass. 

I love Grand Forks (my hometown) but it is too much of a corn row city (controls its growth to its detriment).   

St. Cloud is bizarre to me...feels like the franchise retail capital of the word (like Fargo without the local favorites and downtown charm).  Minneapolis is getting too big...and it is suppose to grow by 1 million people over the next few years.  Rochester is great if you are bordering on the age where you start asking for senior discounts and your food & coffee is never hot enough.

What are your thoughts?

Donovan Wadholm