The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) announced March 6 that Site Selection magazine has listed the Capital Region as one of the top ten metro areas (population between 200,000 and 1 million) for new and expanded corporate facilities in 2012. The magazine uses its “New Plant Database” to track business development projects with a significant impact. Based on the database’s criteria, the Baton Rouge area finished the year with 34 qualifying projects, bringing the region in at number four on the list. This is the third year in a row that the region has finished in the top ten.

“Being recognized on this list for a third year in a row would have been impossible without a true regional strategy and partnership. We thank the leaders of our nine parishes for their great work last year, as well as our state partners,” said Adam Knapp, BRAC’s president and CEO. “BRAC is looking forward to another successful year for regional economic development in 2013.”

The Site Selection database follows new facilities and expansions on the basis of three factors: (a.) involves a capital investment of at least $1 million; (b.) creates at least 50 new jobs; or (c.) adds at least 20,000 square feet of new floor space. It does not track retail and government projects, schools or hospitals.

BRAC worked with 13 companies in 2012 which announced expansions or relocations in the region. These projects will result in the creation of over 1,128 new jobs, $78.1 million in new payroll and $3.5 billion in capital investment. The average wage per job announced was $69,237, a new BRAC record.

The top ten list of metropolitan statistical area populations between 200,000 and 1 million and their total of qualifying projects includes: Dayton, OH (53); Tulsa, OK (41); Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA (38); Baton Rouge, LA (34); Lancaster, PA (33); Greensboro-High Point, NC (30); Lexington-Fayette, KY (29); Akron, OH (25); Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (24); and Grand Rapids, MI (23).

About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) leads economic development in the Baton Rouge metropolitan area. Serving as the voice of the business community, BRAC’s investors includes more than 1,500 organizations whose employees represent over a third of the Creative Capital of the South’s workforce.