Stephen Boecking, vice president of business development withAlliance developer Hillwood Development Co. LLC in Dallasacknowledges he was somewhat surprised by the rankings, whichreflect 2006 figures, the most recent analyzed. "This is the firsttime we've been ranked number one," he comments. "We don't have anocean. But the railroad is our ocean."

He says outstanding rail service to Alliance, located north ofFort Worth, was one reason for the high flow of foreign goods intothe area. Additionally, "Alliance is a one-day truck drive to 48million Americans. We have intermodal rail, international air cargoservice and we're right on the Interstate 35-NAFTA highway,"Boecking tells GlobeSt.com.

And that's only with Alliance 35% developed. "We intend tocontinue focusing on imports," Boecking says. "Imports are flattoday, but in the long run, over the next 15 years, the nationalforecast imports are scheduled to double or triple in the U.S."Alliance is in the perfect location to take advantage of the flow,he adds.