Billings, Missoula on Inc.com list Eds: APNewsNow.

holi HELENA, Mont. (AP) Billings is ranked No. 31 in Inc.com's Best U.S. Cities for Doing Business. The list has Missoula at No. 166.

The Inc.com Best Cities list focuses on short- and long-term job growth and is gauged at informing entrepreneurs some of the best places to locate or expand businesses.

The list includes 335 cities nationwide.

Cities also are broken down by size, and Billings is listed No.

23 on the list of the top small cities.

Large areas include those with a current nonfarm employment base of at least 450,000 jobs. Midsize areas range from 150,000 to 450,000 jobs, and small is defined as areas having as many as 150,000 jobs.

On the Net: http://www.inc.com/bestcities/2008 (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-14-08 1504CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list