A couple of weeks ago Money magazine reported that Lee County is one of the top job growth counties in the United States. It’s not the first time our country has received national accolades for being a great place to work. There are many reasons why we fare so well in such reports. We’re fortunate to have Auburn University and Southern Union State Community College in the county. Our governmental officials on the local, state and national levels deserve some credit for their efforts. So do local business leaders. But we believe the most important reason for our lofty rankings is the 65,000-plus Lee County residents who are committed to their respective jobs. They’re the backbone for our county’s growth and prosperity. We’re fortunate to have one of the most diverse economies in the state – maybe the Southeast. Many Lee County residents work in education, whether it’s on the college level, in our K-12 school systems, private schools or other academic arenas. Our public safety workers are willing to risk their lives to make this a safer county. Auburn and Opelika both offer varied industries which offer thousands of good paying jobs – from Auburn’s GE Aviation and Briggs and Stratton to Opelika’s Walmart Distribution Center and Mando America. Both cities boast major commercial retailers and shopping complexes which employ hundreds of workers. Just as important are the smaller factories, industries and family-owned businesses which combine to employ many local residents. The corner gas station and the auto repair shop are critical to our economic success. While our local economy is the envy of many counties, we’ve experienced our share of struggles since 2008. The recession hit us, too. Many local residents were laid off, or were forced to work reduced hours or take lower-paying jobs. It was difficult for many local residents, but we kept working. Multiple officials have told us our county’s work ethic is one reason why national and even international firms want to locate here.
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