For the third year in a row, Wayne County’s economic strength ranks among the top 50 among micropolitans in the United States - and its current 43rd position shows a dramatic improvement that began in 2005 has continued.

POLICOM, an independent economic research firm based in Palm City, Fla., publishes the annual ranking of 577 micropolitan areas, defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget as having a city of at least 10,000 but fewer than 50,000 residents.

Formulas used to assess economic strength measure how the economy has behaved in the previous year. They take into account the growth and size of the regional economy, changes in business sectors that typically show how much money is flowing into a community, and local trends in welfare and Medicare. The full Policom report is available online at policom.com/microrank.htm.

Wayne County has been showing steady improvement since 2004 when it was ranked 140^th.  It moved to 82^nd the following year before breaking in the top 50 - and remaining there ever since – in 2006. This year’s ranking placed Wayne County second among Ohio micropolitans and the fifth strongest performer in the Midwest.

Rod Crider, who serves as the president of the Wayne Economic Development Council, said he was pleased with the rankings. Business and industry has thrived in Wayne County, he believes, because of an outstanding local workforce, incredible economic diversity and an engaged leadership.