New D.M. ranking speaks volumes to college kids

As public relations director at AIB College of Business, I continually emphasize to prospective students the positive aspects of enrolling at this longtime educational institution. For out-of-towners, that includes a pitch about the virtues of living in the city of Des Moines.   

I point out that Des Moines is a significant spot for campaigning in U.S. presidential politics and elections. It is home to the Iowa State Fair, and it offers an array of arts and cultural events, concerts, comedy venues, parks, bike trails and other entertainment. Professional sports in Des Moines include soccer, baseball, basketball, arena football and hockey.

But probably none of that resonates as effectively as a mention of the distinction Des Moines earned last week from MoneyUnder30.com, a Web site that provides financial advice to people in their 20s. It named Des Moines one of the top 10 U.S. cities to live in if you’re “young, broke and single.”

Now that’s a ranking that means something to a college student!

MoneyUnder30.com says it compiled its list “using metrics that matter to young professionals trying to simultaneously launch a career, find love and stretch a still-meager paycheck: cheap food, cheap beer and cheap thrills, for starters.” It examined details including unemployment, cost of living, number of single people and number of bars.

Most students at AIB hail from other parts of Iowa, but the majority of AIB graduates ultimately settle in the Des Moines metro area long-term. In fact, approximately 67 percent of graduating AIB students from August 2011 through May 2012 remained in the Des Moines area for work or to continue their education.

One reason they stay, of course, is the opportunity for business careers Des Moines is the third-largest international insurance center after London, England, and Hartford, Conn. And the Greater Des Moines area has the highest concentration of metro employment in financial services in the United States.

But list-making groups favor Des Moines for a variety of other reasons. With props like these, it’s not hard for a PR person to gush to prospective students about the advantages of moving to Des Moines to attend college:

• In 2013, Manpower Group rated Greater Des Moines as the hottest spot in the country to find a job this summer.
• In 2013, Marketwatch magazine ranked Des Moines No. 1 “Best City for Business” among metro areas of more than 500,000 population. 
•  In 2012, Kiplinger's magazine ranked Des Moines No. 1 “Best City for Families.”
• In November 2012, CNN Money magazine ranked Des Moines in the top six for “Cities Where Startups are Thriving.”
• In 2012, Mother Nature Network ranked the Des Moines Farmers' Market one of nine U.S. farmers markets “every food lover should visit,” and Country Living magazine named it one of “America’s Best Farmers Markets.” 
• In 2012, Midwest Living magazine ranked Adventureland Park near Des Moines among its 15 “Favorite Midwest Amusement Parks,” and in 2011, Trip Advisor travel Web site named it one of “America’s Top 10 Water Parks.” 
• In 2012, Forbes magazine listed Des Moines as the No. 2 “U.S. City for Jobs” and the No. 4 “Best City for Business and Careers.”