Look across America and you'll find some empty, downright miserable cities [1] that have been left in a muddy wake after months of layoffs, foreclosures and broken businesses. More than four million people have lost their jobs since December 2007 and only a select group of major metropolitan areas remain relatively unphased. Forbes has put together its 11th annual ranking of the Best Places for Business and Careers [2], which maps out the areas that are still attractive to businesses. It looks like North Carolina and Colorado are the place to be.

1. Raleigh, NC
2. Fort Collins, CO
3. Durham, NC
4. Fayetteville, AR
5. Lincoln, NE
6. Asheville, NC
7. Des Moines, IA
8. Austin, TX
9. Boise, ID
10. Colorado Springs, CO

Source [3]