City Named fDi Magazine’s 10th Best Mid-Sized City of the Future

The City of Richmond has been named as the 10th Best Mid-sized American City of the Future by Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) magazine. This is the second time the city of Richmond has received an award distinction from fDi. The city was named as the Best Small American City of the Future in 2011; however the city was moved to the mid-sized city category for the 2013-2014 report as fDi instituted new population category parameters.

“The fDi Magazine announcement is recognition of our unyielding commitment to building a dynamic and sustaining local economy. I have always believed that Richmond’s best days are still to come and have made it a priority to invest in assets that continue to attract the best and the brightest,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “We have tools that few cities can claim: incredible natural resources, a rich history, and a passionate and creative citizenry. We’ve been able to bring together businesses, academia, local government, and our vibrant neighborhoods over a shared goal. I remain committed to making sure that we take advantage of these things, and that together, we build the best Richmond.”

To create the shortlist for fDi’s American Cities of the Future 2013/14, fDi’s research team collected data using the specialist online fDi tools fDi Benchmark and fDi Markets, as well as other sources. Data was collected for 422 cities under five categories: Economic Potential, Human Resources, Cost Effectiveness, Infrastructure and Business Friendliness. A sixth category was added: fDi Strategy. In this category, 127 cities submitted details about their current strategy for fDi promotion and this was scored by fDi’s judging panel. Cities scored up to a maximum of 10 points under each data point, which was weighted by importance to the fDi decision-making process in order to compile both the subcategory rankings as well as the overall American Cities of the Future 2013/14 ranking.

To celebrate the success of cities across North and South America, fDi Magazine will hold an awards ceremony during the International Economic Development Council 2013 Annual Conference in Philadelphia, October 6- 9, 2013.