Amarillo’s economy 17th by national think-tank

AMARILLO – Amarillo ranked 17th on the 179 Smallest Metros list in the 2012 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index for growth in the economy and creating and sustaining the job market.

Companies such as Bell Helicopter Textron, the Pantex Plant and others have helped keep unemployment low. Amarillo College and West Texas A&M University also are vital components to the economic growth of the city.

The city has the lowest taxes in the state and one of only five cities with a AAA bond rating in Texas, according to Paul Harpole, Amarillo’s mayor.

The Best-Performing Cities Index ranks U.S. metropolitan areas on how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth over a five-year period based on employment, salaries and technology growth.

The Amarillo Metropolitan Statistical Area covers Potter, Randall, Carson and Armstrong counties.