April 2011 fDi (Foreign Direct Investment) magazine, published by the Financial Times of London, has named Plattsburgh the third-best micro city (cities with populations of less than 100,000) for economic potential in North and South America. The magazine’s Cities of the Future ranking also featured Plattsburgh as fifth for human resources and seventh for business friendliness. fDi Cities of the Future shortlists are created by an independent collection of data from 405 cities across North and South America. The selection criteria for economic potential included population, GDP, outward and inward foreign direct investment and foreign direct investment in R&D and manufacturing, number of patents, number of mega projects (as defined by job creation and capital expenditure), capital expenditure on R&D projects, a global competitiveness index and inflation. "To be compared with like-sized communities across the western hemisphere and be seen as No. 3 for our economic potential, backed up with high marks for our workforce support system and for our friendliness to business, is not only gratifying but puts an international spotlight on us that is invaluable," said North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas in a press release.
