Decatur-Morgan County received a Top 10 Metro Ranking by Site Selection Magazine for the second year in a row for its ability to attract business. Decatur earned the ranking in the category of “Metros with population less than 200,000” in the March 2013 issue.

The Decatur Metro is ranked in a 5-way tie for the seventh position for the number of projects announced in 2012. Each year, Site Selection Magazine evaluates every metro and micro economy in the nation based on jobs and capital investment generated by corporate facility projects. They factor into their rankings the creativity of economic development strategy; depth and breadth of project activity; ability to generate breakthrough deals; and the ability to properly document the contributions of the economic development organization to actual project results. They also look at jobs per capita and investment per capita to give every community in America an equal chance of winning.

In 2011, Site Selection Magazine named Decatur No. 1 nationally among metropolitan areas of population below 200,000. Decatur was the only metropolitan area in the state to receive a ranking.

“Decatur, Alabama, has a long track record of proven performance when it comes to attracting corporate facility investments. This past year was no exception, as Decatur ranked seventh among all micropolitan areas in the country. Corporate executives know that Decatur delivers on its promises when it comes to supporting industry with all of the assets needed to excel, including an exemplary work force,” said Ron Starner, Executive Vice President of Site Selection Magazine.

“This is a great achievement for our community,” said Jeremy Nails, President and CEO of Morgan County Economic Development Association. “To remain in the Top 10 for the second straight year will not only continue to attract attention from prospective companies but it is also great advertising and complements our marketing efforts.”

For the year 2012, Morgan County companies announced over $436 million in new capital investment that will create 537 jobs.

For more information on Decatur-Morgan County and Morgan County Economic Development Association, visit www.mceda.org.