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The Grand Rapids - Wyoming metropolitan area was ranked third best in the nation for business growth by Area Development Magazine.

(File photo | Mlive Media Group)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - For the second year in a row, the Grand Rapids - Wyoming metropolitan area was ranked as the nation's third best place to do business by Area Development Magazine.

Grand Rapids was ranked behind San Francisco and Napa, Calif. in this year's poll of "leading locations" by the magazine, which specializes in site selection and relocation for employers. In 2015, Grand Rapids was ranked behind Denver and Houston.

"Grand Rapids is flexing its economic strength with a number three ranking," said Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place, Inc. The ranking came in Grand Rapids' second year in the "big city" category, which is any MSA with populations of 600,000 or more.

"This ranking turned a lot of heads when we jumped 39 spots last year, and now we're getting a lot of looks by maintaining a top three position," Klohs said. The region was ranked 42nd in 2014 and 127th in 2013.

"These third-party data-driven studies really validate the growth we are experiencing throughout the region and increases the overall perception of West Michigan as a global destination for business success."

In recent years, The Right Place has been successful in retaining SpartanNash's headquarters in West Michigan after a merger, recruited China's Dicastal to make automotive wheels in Greenville and helped attract Nevada-based Switch to build a regional data center in the former Steelcase pyramid in Gaines Township.

The sixth annual "Leading Locations" study was published on Area Development's website this week. Click here to read the full article.

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Jim Harger covers business for Mlive Media Group. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.