Forbes tells world what we already knew

Dow Corning and Gates Rubber have known it for more than a generation. WL Plastics, UPS Supply Chain Solutions and soon Uflex Industries are proving that it’s still true. Sun Tan City and iPay Technologies were born here because of the truth of what Forbes magazine is sharing with the world.
This area is a great place to do business.
That applies to retailers, restaurants and real estate professionals as well as the manufacturing community.
Forbes recently released its list of the best small places in the U.S. for business and careers. The Elizabethtown Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Hardin and LaRue counties, ranked 34th nationally out of 184 MSAs.
Ranking in the top 20 percent of some very notable and attractive communities is an impressive reminder of all that we have to offer from Radcliff and Vine Grove all the way to Upton and Hodgenville.
The ranking serves as a bragging point and a challenge. After all, there are 33 communities in front including the Bowling Green MSA, which is No. 5.
As Judge-Executive Harry Berry said in a report about the Forbes list: “We’re doing well, but we don’t want to rest on our laurels.”
The magazine’s breakdown for the Elizabethtown MSA indicates education is an obvious area for improvement. The area ranked 24 in cost of doing business, 73 in job growth and 142 in education. Topics such as availability of colleges and educational attainment are on an upward trend locally but that emphasis must be maintained.
Overall, the entire state has reasons to smile. The Owensboro area came in at No. 58 and a separate list of the best major metros for business and careers, Lexington finished at No. 4 and Louisville ranked No. 14 out of 200 MSAs.
That says a lot about Kentucky’s business climate, where affordable electricity, reasonable cost of living and quality of life are apparent to us even if not so obvious across the country.
A special synergy is building here and others are taking notice.

This editorial represents a consensus of The News-Enterprise editorial board.