CONTRIBUTED BY CITIES OF AUBURN AND OPELIKA
AUBURN-OPELIKA — Site Selection Magazine has ranked the Auburn-Opelika area No. 2 on its list of 2024 Top Metros Per Capita – Tier 2.
Site Selection, published by Conway Data, is the senior publication in the corporate real estate and economic development fields. The magazine’s yearly Top Metro annual rankings are a benchmark in the economic development community, evaluating metropolitan areas based on their number of qualifying corporate facility projects. The projects must meet Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) criteria changes, such as substantial capital investment, job creation and new facility construction. Site Selection’s analyses are closely watched by more than 41,000 qualified subscribers, most of whom are involved in corporate facility location decisions at the CEO/president/COO level.
“To be noticed on the nation’s top metro radar is contingent on a variety of factors: Business climate, availability of robust infrastructure, educational offerings, employment opportunities and overall quality of life, to name a few,” the Site Selection article states. “Getting there is no walk in the park. Site Selection’s 2024 Top 10 Tier 2 Metros are keenly aware of this. To grow is to change, and while there is no set timeline for getting to the top, the diligence of a region’s leadership is often what sets them apart.
“CBSA changes saw the previously Tier 3 metro of Auburn-Opelika, Alabama, level up to Tier 2 in 2024,” the article states. “The metro has added over 20,800 residents and now claims a population of more than 201,500. The region’s 14 projects helped it secure the No. 2 rank behind Sioux Falls. Savannah, Georgia, moved up to third, barely beating out the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek metro, which remained firmly in fourth place. Kentucky’s Lexington-Fayette region rounds out the top five, up from No. 7 the year prior.”
“In 2024, the City of Auburn announced three new company locations and six company expansions — these projects brought in 350 jobs and nearly $182 million in capital investment,” according to a press release from the city of Auburn. “Auburn’s climb in national economic development rankings brings tangible benefits to the community, including job creation, a skilled workforce and enhanced community services.”
“Moving up to a Tier 2 metro and earning the No. 2 spot in Site Selection Magazine speaks volumes about the Auburn-Opelika region’s momentum,” said Opelika City Council President Eddie Smith. “Our commitment to economic development, strategic growth and workforce development has created an environment where businesses can thrive.”
“This ranking reflects the strength of our partnerships, the vision of our leadership and the resilience of our community,” said Opelika Economic Development Director John Sweatman. “Opelika is an attractive place for industries and families alike, and we will continue working to build on this success.”