FAIRHOPE, Ala. — We must be doing something right. In spite of these shaky economic times, Site Selection magazine has named Baldwin County as the second most successful micropolitan area in the United States.

The county, formally categorized by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area, tied for second place in the rankings with Tupelo, Miss., which also made 12 announcements in 2008 concerning the expansion or addition of major business or industrial facilities, and the addition of jobs.

The survey was conducted by the Conway Data New Plant Database, the official corporate facility tracking service of Site Selection. The periodical posted a related story in its March online edition.

“This makes three years in a row we’ve been in the top 1 percent,” said Robert Ingram, president/CEO of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA). “It’s very exclusive company we’re in. It shows we’re accomplishing things, and we’re being successful. Companies like what they see down here.”

Ingram said the magazine grades on strict criteria. Qualifiers must be manufacturing, distribution or corporate headquarters, including call centers and other back office operations. Projects must include construction and meet minimum job and investment criteria, he added.

Some of the major new and expanded projects submitted to Site Selection by BCEDA last year include Marine Specialty and Kelco Metals in Spanish Fort, Gulf Packaging expansion in Bay Minette, Segers Aerospace in Fairhope, Meyer Fulfillment Center and South Alabama Commercial Laundry in Foley, A&S Marble and Ecovery LLC in Loxley and the CRC expansion in Robertsdale.

The submitted projects account for a total of 342 additional jobs and $38 million in investments. Numerous other projects that did not meet Site Selection criteria were announced during the year, Ingram said.

“Qualifying entities are exactly the type high-paying companies we are targeting to better diversify the Baldwin County economy, and being designated as the second best micropolitan area in the United States at doing so, is quite an honor,” he said. “We target clean industry. Tourism will always be a driving force, and we don’t want to do anything to hurt the tourism and service industry.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, micropolitan areas are one county or a small group of counties with populations of more than 10,000 people, but less than 50,000 and no single city larger than 50,000.

There are currently almost 700 micropolitan areas in the United States, representing around 10 percent of the country’s population. They are named after their largest communities, but the statistics represent the entire area.

“Most of the people I talk to around the country are not seeing the activity. We are not seeing the activity we did three years ago or one year ago, but we’re in good shape,” Ingram said.

He noted that 2009 has already begun on a high note with the announcement that the New Jersey-based medical laboratory PLUS Diagnostics is relocating its billing operations to Daphne as early as May 1. Company officials said they expect to hire as many as 40 employees within the first year.

Ingram said, “It shows we’ve got a good public/private partnership. We’ve got several other very active prospects right now. We’re working with a lot of clean energy companies right now.”

Statesville-Mooresville, N.C. came in first in 2008, according to Site Selection magazine, with 17 announced projects. Some of the largest are linked to Mooresville’s close relationship with NASCAR.

The publication reports that Kyle Busch Motorsports is building a $7 million, 62,000-square-foot industrial building, while a $2 million Penske Racing expansion is adding 46,000 square feet of shop space.

Kasey Kahne Racing is making a $5 million investment that is creating 25 jobs there, and adding a 26,000-square-foot facility.

Baldwin County is not the only micropolitan area to tie with another in the latest poll. Ottawa-Streator, Ill., and Batavia, N.Y., tied for fourth with 11 announced projects each, while Wooster, Ohio, finished sixth with 10.

Finishing the top 10 are last year’s winner, Lexington-Thomasville, N.C. and Ashtabula, Ohio, which each sealed nine deals, followed by Wapakoneta, Ohio, with eight, and Adrian, Mich. and Lincolnton, N.C. with seven each.

Bringing up the rear in the results is Watertown-Fort Atkinson, Wisc., which tied for 65th place with Fort Payne, Ala. and 67 other micropolitan areas — each announcing two new projects or expansions.