According to the Leading Locations 2014 study, the Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Franklin metropolitan statistical area ranked 14th nationwide for economic and job growth. For this year’s Leading Locations study, Area Development analyzed economic and work force data for 379 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) — both for 2012–2013 and, in some categories, stretching as far back as 2008, the depths of the recession. The goal was to identify which cities across America are emerging as front-runners in this new era of economic development possibilities — and why.