2-2-08 Auburn-Opelika -- location of Silver's latest retail, entertainment and attractions destination -- is named as one of the Top 10 fastest-growing small metro areas in the nation. Officials credit the metro's location along the I-85 Corridor and economic recruiting for the tremendous growth.

OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS
Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008

The Auburn-Opelika metro area is growing by leaps and bounds. So much so that Forbes.com named it as the sixth fastest-growing small metro area in the nation this week.

The area’s gross metropolitan product is expected to grow more than 24 percent by 2012, according to the Forbes site. Auburn’s population alone is expected to grow more than 17 percent by 2012.

The city’s efforts to entice small and medium-sized businesses, especially in the technology sector, and the two cities’ location on the I-85 corridor have played a big part in fueling that growth, the article says.

The Auburn-Opelika area followed Mobile; Texarkana, Texas/Ark.; Palm Coast, Fla.; Huntsville; and Prescott, Ariz., in small metropolitan growth.

That growth is good news, but not something that happened overnight, Auburn Mayor Bill Ham said. In a statement, Ham attributed much of Auburn’s growth to a comprehensive development plan created in the 1980s.

The I-85 corridor also helps tremendously, Ham said Friday. He commended the city’s economic development department and others for their work in drawing businesses and people to Auburn.

Ham said he was proud of the Auburn area for bucking the recent downward economic trend across the nation. While economic growth brings more economic growth, other aspects of the area have a lot to do with the growth, too, Ham said. Education and recreation opportunities also draw people.

“People are looking for quality of life,” Ham said. “… Sometimes I don’t think people realize what they’ve got (here). This area has the best of everything.”

The metro area will likely continue to grow, too, Ham said. Three economic development projects are scheduled to be announced the first half of this year, he said, and a new technology park is set to open soon.

“We’ve got a number of things keeping our economy open,” he said.

According to the U.S. Census (http://www.census.gov), Auburn’s 2006 estimated population was 51,906, and Opelika’s was 24,563. The total 2006 population estimate for all of Lee County was 125,781.

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