The Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley is now recognized as one of the top 50 places in the country to live and work. An analysis of 50 "quality of life" factors puts the greater Knoxville metropolitan area into Expansion Management magazine's elite "five star" category for the first time. No other Tennessee metropolitan area appears on the list of five- or four-star regions.

The independent study ranked the Knoxville region as especially attractive in the categories of affordable housing, standard of living, air service and continuing education. Expansion Management circulates to some 45,000 business decision-makers across the country. It is closely read by site consultants who help companies find the best locations to locate or expand a business.

"I am pleased Knoxville is receiving recognition as a great city to live, work and raise a family," said Mayor Bill Haslam. "This news will make the city and region even more attractive when people think about where to start, expand or relocate their businesses."

The April issue and the magazine's web site - www.expansionmanagement.com - also features an interview with Brunswick Boat Group president Dusty McCoy about the company's decision to move its headquarters to Knoxville.

McCoy said work force quality, incentives, location and quality of life issues played an important role.

McCoy said Knoxville won out over several other Southern cities because "we felt that Knoxville was a city where people could settle in, raise children and have a wonderful lifestyle outside of the office."

McCoy said Brunswick Boat headquarters employees who were asked to relocate to Knoxville have been happy with their move. "There hasn't been a person who came here that wished he or she hadn't," he said.

Brunswick Boat is the world's largest manufacturer of pleasure boats with net sales of $1.6 billion in 2003.