Residents of the Auburn-Opelika metropolitan statistical area (MSA) have another reason to feel proud of the community thanks to a new report released by Business Facilities Magazine (BFM). According to their 2018 Metro Rankings Report, Auburn-Opelika ranks for economic and job growth among MSAs of similar size across the country.
For the Job Growth category among small MSAs, Auburn-Opelika ranks number three just under St. George, Utah, and Sebring, Florida, whereas the area’s Economic Growth Potential ranks number one—just above the Lincoln, Nebraska, and Joplin, Missouri, areas. Auburn-Opelika came out as the only Alabama city to earn the Economic Growth Potential slot. For the Job Growth category, the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, Alabama, MSA accompanies Auburn-Opelika at number six.
On another positive note for Alabama, the state topped rankings in BFM’s 14th Annual State Rankings Report as number one for Best Business Climate. Alabama also sits at number four in Economic Growth Potential and number two in Workforce Training Leaders. BFM hails Alabama’s legacy project, the Toyota and Mazda manufacturing plant to be built in Huntsville this fall, as the reason behind the state’s anticipated economic success. The plant expects to employ 4,000 jobs and create annually 300,000 vehicles.
According to Auburn News, the fact that Auburn ranks for economic and job growth is unsurprising—after all, the City of Auburn has strived for decades to strengthen and diversify its economy. Since 1994, the city has seen the introduction of about “6,800 jobs and $1.4 billion in capital investments.” Eight regional, national, and international awards bolster the City of Auburn’s non-profit Workforce Development program.
The fact that Auburn-Opelika ranks for economic and job growth shows a good reason to move—or stay!—in the Auburn-Opelika area! For more community news, continue following the Ryan Roberts Realtor blog. Looking into the housing market in the Auburn, Opelika, and Lake Martin area? Call Ryan Roberts at 334-750-9872 or email [email protected]!