B.R. ranked 4th among midsize metros for corporate projects in 2012

Site Selection magazine has named the Capital Region one of the top 10 metro areas in the country for new and expanded corporate facilities in 2012, BRAC announced this morning. For metro areas with populations between 200,000 and 1 million, Baton Rouge is ranked No. 4. The magazine says Baton Rouge had 34 projects last year that included a capital investment of at least $1 million, the creation of at least 50 new jobs or the addition of at least 20,000 square feet of new floor space. The magazine does not track retail and government projects, schools, or hospitals. It’s the third year in a row that Baton Rouge has made the top 10 on the list. “Being recognized on this list for a third year in a row would have been impossible without a true regional strategy and partnership,” says BRAC President/CEO Adam Knapp in a prepared statement. “We thank the leaders of our nine parishes for their great work last year, as well as our state partners.” BRAC says it worked with 13 companies last year that announced expansions or relocations in the Capital Region. The projects will result in 1,128 new jobs, $78.1 million in new payroll and $3.5 billion in capital investment, BRAC says. The three metro areas ahead of Baton Rouge on the list are Dayton, Ohio; Tulsa, Okla.; and Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb./Iowa.