AUBURN-OPELIKA RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY, WINS MAC CONWAY AWARD

OPELIKA, Ala– The City of Opelika, the Opelika Economic Development Office, and the Opelika Industrial Development Authority is excited to announce that the Auburn-Opelika MSA ranked as one of the top 20 organizations in the country, earning a Mac Conway Award. 

Mayor Gary Fuller said, “This award is a testament to the hard work, vision, and collaboration between our city, economic development leaders, and industry partners. We are proud of the momentum we’ve built and remain committed to creating opportunities that benefit our citizens for generations to come.”

The Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development is an annual award given to top economic development organizations in the U.S. for their roles in helping to deliver prosperity and development to theircommunities. Scores are awarded based on following criteria: total projects, total investment and total jobs associated with corporate facility projects, 2025 Milken Institute Best Performing Cities Index and the 2025 Most Dynamic Cities report from Heartland Forward.

 “The City of Opelika is truly honored to be recognized with the Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development. There is no doubt that what we have accomplished in our community would not be possible without having a complete team effort with support from all of our stakeholders. With the continued reinvestments from our existing industries and more recent new project announcements like Niagara Bottling and Miele Manufacturing, our community has seen more than $2.6 billion in capital investments and the creation of over 5,700 new good paying jobs in recent years. Opelika continues to be a great place to live, work, and play,” said John Sweatman, Opelika Economic Development Director.

The award, named for Site Selection founder H. McKinley “Mac” Conway, a pioneer in the field of economic development, recognizes the efforts of those who work long hours in the trenches to bring projects large and small to their communities. 

Opelika Council President Eddie Smith added, “Being named a top 20 economic development organization in the country is a major honor. It reflects the dedication of our team and the strength of our partnerships. Opelika’s growth is no accident—it’s the result of strategic planning and a community-wide commitment to excellence.”