St. George 2nd Best City Nationally to Start Business

A new report by Wallethub named St. George the 2nd best small city in the nation to start a business.

The report surveyed more than 1,200 cities with fewer than 100,000 people, ranking businesses based on costs, resources, and overall work environment.

St. George entrepreneurs say their businesses are growing rapidly thanks to many new tourists and residents in the area choosing to shop local.

Jerry Christensen, co-owner of Main Street Antiques, said his family-owned business is becoming more successful year after year.

"Here in St. George, we haven't seen it like this before," Christensen said. "We would pray just to get one person a day in. Now put two zeros behind that and sometimes more."

Christensen said visitors look for a special gift in St. George they can't find anywhere else, and he can spend time building relationships with customers that may be more difficult in a bigger city.

In the report, St. George ranked well in terms of business revenue growth, commute time, and the length of the work week.

"If you're a hard worker, you've got a good idea and some staying power, you can come in and do well in this city," said St. George Mayor Jon Pike.

Mayor Pike said the city's rapid growth and strong Area Chamber of Commerce allow local startups and family-owned businesses to grow organically.

"It's just simply a desirable place to be because of lifestyle, the people, and the opportunities," said Pike.

The report named 5 other cities in Utah in the top 20.

News Story Provided by our News Partners at ABC 4 News.