It is the best-kept secret: Omaha is a great place to live and work. Located on the western banks of the Missouri River, the city has been an important agricultural and transportation center since its establishment in the late 1850s. During the early days, Omaha was a trading center and the Gateway to the West. From these roots, it has steadily grown. Now it is the forty-fifth largest city and the sixty-first largest metro area in the nation.

Omaha's employment base, anchored by more than 18,600 businesses within the metro area, is well diversified and reflects the city's status as a regional service and trade center. This growing area is home to five Fortune 500 companies, and approximately 35 other Fortune 500 companies have manufacturing plants or service centers in the metro area. The headquarters of almost 30 insurance companies, over two-dozen direct response/telemarketing centers, and a number of other national and international firms call this city home.

Omaha is large enough to provide a variety of cosmopolitan attractions and small enough to offer a relaxed lifestyle. The community has access to cultural programs that would be of credit to a much larger city, including the professional Omaha Symphony Orchestra and Opera Omaha. There are also 15 theater organizations located here, including the Omaha Community Playhouse, which is the largest community theater in the country. Within the metro area are lakes suitable for boating, sailing, fishing and a number of other activities.

Omaha has a sound infrastructure that makes day-to-day living easier. The city has outstanding academic institutions, including 11 colleges and universities that help make the work force one of the most educated in the country. Omaha also has an excellent healthcare system, with two major medical schools, one dental school, 11 hospitals and several clinics.

Omaha is the place to be if you prefer a city that offers a small-town atmosphere with big-city advantages. A diverse industry base, superb healthcare, great schools, and numerous cultural and recreational activities make Omaha a place you just can't resist.