1. Las Vegas: A Business Hotspot
By David M. Frank
Las Vegas is one of America’s fastest-growing cities. Despite the recession, housing bust, and suffering
economy, its population rose a staggering 41.8 percent in the last decade. The population of the
metropolitan area in 2010 was 1,951,269, a significant increase from the 2000 census count of
1,375,765.
On the business side of things, the city is becoming a popular landing spot for businesses large and
small. So far, in the 2012 fiscal year, over 80 organizations and businesses have relocated, opened, or
expanded there. One reason is that the market area within one day’s drive of the city comprises more
than 51 million people. Another reason is that Las Vegas prides itself on its friendliness and service. Last
year, the city was rated second among major American cities for business friendliness by FDI magazine.
McCarran International Airport is the eighth busiest in the United States, with over 30 air carriers. The
city is home to many business headquarters, including Switch, the world’s largest technology ecosystem
and data center.
About the Author:
David M. Frank, CEO and Chairman of The Merrill Group of Companies, develops and manages
properties across the United States. The company currently has an exciting development underway in
Las Vegas, the World Electronics Mart.