As crime soared in Reading throughout the 1990s, companies and corporations relocated from the city to newer, Class A office space in the borough.

In 1973, the corporation relocated to Young America, Minnesota, and took on the name of the town.

"It's scary," said Joan Zawacki, director of research and development at Homequity, a national company that helps corporations relocate employees.

Often big corporations relocate their employees for short- to long-term assignments abroad.

After several corporations relocated their offices to other facilities during the late 1990s and early 2000s, the building's vacancy rate soared as high as 73%.

He promoted the city around the world in an attempt to lure international investments and to get corporations to relocate offices to the city.

But Mr. Francis was unmoved by predictions that corporations would relocate - which he called a "red herring" - because of the reporting change.

Large corporations either received tax rebates or relocated their facilities, without reference to employee interests.

The corporation relocated to Baltimore, Maryland in early 2012.

Beginning in the 1950s, many major corporations based in New York City relocated operations to White Plains and other nearby locations.