Wabash named Top 100 Micropolitan by Site Selector Magazine

Release excerpts courtesy of Site Selector Magazine

[Site Selector Magazine] has awarded the Governor's Cup annually since 1988, based on new and expanded corporate facilities as tracked by the proprietary Conway Projects Database. Site Selection, published by Conway Data, is the senior publication in the corporate real estate and economic development fields. The magazine's yearly analyses are regarded by corporate real estate analysts as "the industry scoreboard," and its controlled-circulation base consists of more than 41,000 subscribers, most of whom are involved in corporate facility location decisions at the CEO/President/COO level.

"The Governor's Cups recognize not only the winning governors, but their entire economic development teams, and by extension, the many professionals throughout their states who work every day to attract new investment and retain and grow existing businesses," says Mark Arend, editor emeritus of Site Selection, who wrote the issue's cover story containing his conversations with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. "Governors Abbott and Noem and their teams deliver the kind of business climate and fiscal predictability that capital investors from around the world rely on for long-term success." 

Site Selection's Conway Projects Database focuses on new corporate facility projects with significant impact, including headquarters, manufacturing plants, R&D operations and logistics sites, among others. It does not track retail and government projects, nor schools, hospitals or infrastructure investments. New facilities and expansions included in the analyses must meet at least one of three criteria: (a) a capital investment of at least US$1 million, (b) at least 20 new jobs or (c) at least 20,000 sq. ft. (1,858 sq. m.) of new floor area.

In the magazine's ranking of Top Micropolitans - cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people which cover at least one county - Findlay, Ohio, once again was tops among the nation's 543 micropolitan areas, tallying 25 projects last year. Second place went to Cullman, Alabama (No. 3 last year), with Angola, Indiana, at No. 3, and then three communities finishing in a tie for fourth: Sidney, Ohio; Frankfort, Kentucky and Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Ohio once again led as the state with most Top 100 Micropolitans, with 15 of them, including five among the Top 10 and ties. Together, those 15 micros tallied enough projects (97) to account for more than one-fifth of the state's total. Georgia had 12 Top Micros for second place, while Indiana's 11 Top Micros took third place. 

The City of Wabash was tied for 68th place on the annual list with 2 projects fitting within the Governor's Cup criteria.

2024 Top 100 Micropolitan Ranks