AUBURN, Ala.- The cities of Auburn and Opelika recently received the 2025 Mac Conway Award for Economic Development Excellence, presented by Site Selection Magazine. Named after Site Selection Founder McKinley "Mac" Conway, the award honors top-performing economic development organizations across the country. The Auburn-Opelika area was one of two Alabama regions to receive the award.

To determine this year's award winners, Site Selection evaluated cities based on corporate facility project, investment and job creation numbers; Milken Institute's Best Performing Cities Index; and Heartland Forward's 2025 Most Dynamic Cities report from Heartland Forward.

“Auburn has firmly established itself as a leader in economic growth in Alabama and the U.S.,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “With the strength of Auburn University and a vibrant, forward-thinking business community, Auburn is well-positioned for continued success. We’re proud of the collaboration that drives our momentum and excited about the opportunities ahead.”

In 2024 alone, the City of Auburn announced three new company locations and six company expansions. These projects brought in 350 jobs and nearly $182 million in capital investment.

Read more about the award at siteselection.com/top-groups-in-economic-development.