Investment, new jobs, new construction. That’s what experts measure as they rank the top micropolitans in the U.S.

Site Selection Magazine, the leading publication in corporate real estate and facility planning, recently announced its 2024 Governor’s Cup results. The OhioSE region, comprised of 25 counties in Appalachian Ohio, gave a strong performance with five communities landing in the Top Micropolitan list for the past year.

With three qualifying projects, Gallipolis tied for 39th in the nation, and with two qualifying projects each, Athens, Cambridge, Chillicothe, and Zanesville tied for 70th.

As defined by the White House Office of Management and Budget, a Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of a core urban area with a population of between 10,000 and 49,999, along with adjacent counties that have a high degree of economic and social integration with the core, primarily measured through commuting patterns.

For 2024, 125 micros from 29 states found spots in Site Selection Magazine’s rankings, the threshold for inclusion being a minimum of two qualifying projects of at least $1 million invested, 20 new jobs created or 20,000 sq. ft. of new or expanded facility space. Ohio led the way among states with the most Top Micropolitans, with 20 communities ranking and a total of 135 qualifying projects.

“The fact that five of the communities in the OhioSE region have made this prestigious list is a direct testament to the hard work that our local economic development professionals and their partners are doing to keep their communities competitive and their economies growing through new investment and jobs creating projects,” said Matt Abbott, President and CEO of OhioSE. “This designation is a true example of our region’s strong competitive business climate.”

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