Top Ten Mid-Markets of the Decade

Each year in our SB&D 100, Southern Business & Development ranks states and markets in the South based on projects landed of 200 jobs or more and/ or $30 million in investment or more. Each state and market receives points based on the size of the project. The following are the top 10 mid-markets in the South in the last decade based on points earned in the annual SB&D 100 as well as a few selected and notable projects announced in each market over the last 10 years. 

1.  Huntsville, Ala. 370 Points

Notable Projects: Hudson-Alpha Institute, Booz Allen Hamilton, Northrop Grumman, Toyota, Navistar, SAIC, Target, Verizon.

2.  Baton Rouge, La. 200 Points

Notable Projects: SNF, Coca-Cola, Shaw Westinghouse, EA North America, Albemarle, Criterion Catalyst, Ligfuel, Shintech. 

3.  McAllen, Tex. 190 Points

Notable Projects: T-Mobile, Black & Decker, Convergys, Johnson Controls, TicketMaster, Santana Textiles, Eaton Hydraulic, Emerson.

4.  Tri-Cities, Tenn. 185 Points

Notable Projects: Eastman Chemical, Vifan USA, Cingular Wireless, Exide, King Pharmaceuticals.

5.  Gulfport/Biloxi, Miss. 180 Points

Notable Projects: Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Wellman, NASA Shared Services, Beau Rivage, El Du Pont De Nemours.

6.  Knoxville, Tenn. 180 Points

Notable Projects: U.S. Cellular, Exedy, Brinks Home Security, Scripps Television, Green Mountain Coffee.

7.  Little Rock, Ark. 140 Points

Notable Projects: Hewlett Packard, LM Glasfiber, Welspun, Cardinal Healthcare, Southwestern Energy, Raytheon.

8.  Mobile, Ala. 140 Points

Notable Projects: Austal USA, ThyssenKrupp, Berg Steel, Exxon Mobil, ST Mobile Aerospace, HK Motors. Goodrich Aerospace.

9.  Tulsa, Okla. 115 Points

Notable Projects: Shaw Industries, Zeldyne, DirectTV, Navistar, Sabre Holdings, Panda Energy, IBM, Kimberly Clark, Verizon.

10.Charleston, S.C. 110 Points

Notable Projects: Google, Boeing, Verizon, Global Aeronautica, DuPont, Bosch Corp, DaimlerChrysler, Gildan Activewear.