Scranton Named One of Nation’s Best Places to Raise Your Kids

In a study released recently by BusinessWeek, Scranton was named among the nation's best places to raise your kids for 2010.

BusinessWeek chose one town and two runners-up for each of the 50 states based upon school performance, number of schools, household expenditures, crime rates, air quality, job growth, family income, museums, parks, theaters, other amenities and diversity. Weighed most heavily were affordability, safety and school test scores.

Scranton beat out runners-up Erie and Allentown to be named Pennsylvania's Best Place to Raise Your Kids. BusinessWeek's summation of the city's assets said: “Scranton, once a hub for coal-and-iron production in the state's Pocono Northeast region, is probably best known today as the setting for the popular TV show, The Office. It also has a low cost of living, ski slopes, and colleges, including Scranton University.”

The Scranton Plan, the industrial marketing arm of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and community leaders launched Rediscover Scranton to promote and strengthen greater Scranton’s quality of life and business assets. Through Rediscover Scranton, volunteers are identifying and contacting accomplished people with ties to greater Scranton, informing them about economic, quality of living, and growth opportunities, and encouraging them to relocate their businesses and families to the area.