CONTACT:  Stacey Swank, Business Development Manager

Pinellas County Economic Development sswank@pinellascounty.org or (727) 464-7425

Pinellas County’s Low Cost of Living Continues to Attract Businesses

The St. Petersburg/Clearwater Pinellas County area is among the least expensive large metro areas to live in the United States, according to ACCRA’s Cost of Living Survey, Quarter 1, 2004 results.  The research organization announced Pinellas County’s composite index score at 90.6%, about 10% below the national average.

“Pinellas County continues to provide its residents with a thriving business community, high-tech workforce, exceptional quality of life and a low cost of living,” stated Richard R. (Buzz) David, CEcD, Director of Pinellas County Economic Development after learning of the results. “Pinellas County’s low cost of living is an important qualifier for companies relocating to Pinellas.”

The ACCRA Cost of Living Index measures the cost of consumer goods and services for professional and managerial households in 224 Metropolitan Areas. The index is based on the prices of more than 60 items, from T-Bone steaks to dry cleaning. Prices are collected quarterly by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, university applied economic centers, and other similar organizations in each participating urban area.

ACCRA sampled 26 larger metro areas around the United States, including Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA, New York-Wayne-White Planes MSA, Miami-Miami Beach MSA, Chicago MSA, and San Diego MSA.  Among these 26 large metros, the Tampa Bay MSA was one of seven that had a cost of living below the national average.

For more information, and a compete listing of the results, visit ACCRA’s website at www.accra.org.