Earns Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development
CONTRIBUTED BY CITIES OF AUBURN AND OPELIKA
AUBURN/OPELIKA — The Auburn-Opelika MSA (metropolitan statistical area) has been ranked by Site Selection magazine as one of the top 20 organizations in the country, earning a Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development.
The Mac Conway Award, named for Site Selection founder H. McKinley “Mac” Conway, a pioneer in the field of economic development, is given annually to top economic development organizations in the U.S. for their roles in helping to deliver prosperity and development to their communities.
Site Selection evaluated cities based on corporate facility project, investment and job creation numbers along with Milken Institute’s Best Performing Cities Index ratings and Heartland Forward’s 2025 Most Dynamic Cities report.
“Auburn has firmly established itself as a leader in economic growth in Alabama and the U.S.,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “With the strength of Auburn University and a vibrant, forward-thinking business community, Auburn is well-positioned for continued success. We’re proud of the collaboration that drives our momentum and excited about the opportunities ahead.”
In 2024 alone, 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.
“This award is a testament to the hard work, vision and collaboration between our city, economic development leaders and industry partners,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. “We are proud of the momentum we’ve built and remain committed to creating opportunities that benefit our citizens for generations to come.”
“The city of Opelika is truly honored to be recognized with the Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development,” said John Sweatman, Opelika Economic Development Director. “There is no doubt that what we have accomplished in our community would not be possible without having a complete team effort with support from all of our stakeholders. With the continued reinvestments from our existing industries and more recent new project announcements like Niagara Bottling and Miele Manufacturing, our community has seen more than $2.6 billion in capital investments and the creation of over 5,700 new good paying jobs in recent years. Opelika continues to be a great place to live, work and play.”
“Being named a top 20 economic development organization in the country is a major honor,” said Opelika City Council President Eddie Smith. “It reflects the dedication of our team and the strength of our partnerships. Opelika’s growth is no accident — it’s the result of strategic planning and a community-wide commitment to excellence.”
Read more about the Mac Conway award at siteselection.com/top-groups-in-economic-development.
