Site Selection Magazine names Cullman No. 2 micropolitan in nation

Patrick Camp, The Cullman Times, Ala.
·2 min read

Mar. 11—The city of Cullman has once again made the short list for Site Selection Magazine's best micropolitan area's, this year earning the No. 2 position out of nearly 600 similar sized cities across the country.

Site Selection began ranking micropolitan areas — cities with between 10,000 and 50,000 residents which cover at least one county — in the early 2000's. Rankings are based on the number of projects in the area which either: create at least 20 new jobs, total $1 million or more in capital investment or add 20,000 square feet onto their existing facilities.

Cullman was one of three micropolitans in Alabama to make the magazines top 100 list and contributed 11 of the state's 19 total projects. In it's 22-year history Cullman has ranked among the top 20 a total of 18 times and have made it into the top three position seven.

LaGrange, Alabama/Georgia tied for the 16th spot with five projects and Selma, Ala. tied for the 40th position with three.

Last month, during an industry appreciation event hosted by the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, Cullman Economic Development director Dale Greer said the county set a new record with nearly half-a-billion dollars invested in 2023. The previous record was only set one year earlier with $288 million.

In a press release sent to The Times announcing the ranking, Greer said economic development was a "team effort" which required the combined efforts of federal, state and local leaders as well as those of the community's everyday workforce. He said he is hoping to continue building on the recent trajectory towards growth to ensure Cullman continues to be a thriving are for generations to come.

"Momentum is everything in development. If you aren't growing you are falling behind. There is no status quo. One of the top ways to maintain momentum is to prove you are the best of the best and this ranking shows prospective companies that Cullman is a place people succeed. Maintaining Cullman's momentum is how we ensure there will be promising opportunities for the children we are raising right now and the generations that follow," Greer said.