BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Each year, POLICOM Corp. of Palm City, Fla., analyzes the economic strength of 363 Metropolitan Statistical Areas containing approximately 1,100 counties, and 576 Micropolitan Statistical Areas containing almost 700 counties.

According to the company’s Economic Strength Rankings-2011, and accompanying information presented by William H. Fruth of POLICOM, Baldwin County, designated as the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley Micropolitan Area, ranked 27th out of the 576 Micros—putting it in the top 5 percent of all micro counties.

Fruth's report states, "The top rated areas have had rapid, consistent growth in both size and quality for an extended period of time."

After analyzing the reports, Robert Ingram, president of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, said this is the eighth consecutive year Baldwin County has ranked in the Top 40 Micro Areas.

“POLICOM uses dozens of factors to analyze the quality of the economy, the behavior of the economy and negative aspects of the economy,” Ingram said.

“Growth rates, including some ‘moving averages’ in certain categories are combined with pure numbers and numerical growth in other categories to rank the micro counties in over 100 categories. Baldwin County is the number one ranked micro in Alabama.

“The Baldwin County EDA’s board and staff are grateful to Baldwin County’s great public and private leadership, and to our investors who play such a vital role in creating a strong, viable economy which continues to rank among the best in the US.”

The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance is a public/private partnership, which works with all five chambers of commerce, 14 towns and cities, industrial development boards and county government on economic development initiatives.

The full report is posted at policom.com.