BIRMINGHAM — Cullman and Selma are among the Alabama small cities and metro areas that received a shoutout from Site Selection magazine for economic development success in the national publication’s extensive 2023 Governor’s Cups analysis.
Cullman ranked No. 2 in Site Selection’s round-up of the nation’s Top 100 Micropolitans, based on 11 growth projects that met the magazine’s strict criteria for gauging projects. Findlay, Ohio, holds the No. 1 spot with 25 growth projects.
The bounty included expansion projects at auto parts manufacturers and aerospace companies, as well as a $350 million automation project at a sprawling Walmart distribution hub, the city’s largest-ever investment project.
“An investment of that size, you figure you’ve got them at least for another 20 or 30 years,” Dale Greer, director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency, told Site Selection.
“These Site Selection rankings are a good reminder that economic development activities bring many positives to our state, including career opportunities that change the trajectories of communities and families,” said Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
Overall, Site Selection ranked Alabama No. 3 in its South Central region for total projects and projects per capita during 2023, with 134 projects that met the magazine’s grading system.
Brenda Tuck, Rural Development Manager for the Alabama Department of Commerce, said the strong showing for Alabama’s small cities in these rankings demonstrate that the state’s rural areas have a lot to offer growing companies.
“Rural Alabama is a very desirable location for corporate investment projects because it can offer a dedicated and motivated workforce, low costs and a very favorable environment to support long-term growth,” Tuck said.
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