Mt. Sterling, KY, Earns National Top-70 Micropolitan Ranking

Mt. Sterling, KY, is being nationally recognized as one of America’s top-performing small cities thanks to strategic efforts to attract and expand local business investment. Underscoring the momentum for sustained economic growth in Mt. Sterling, Site Selection Magazine recently ranked the Central Kentucky city as a 2025 top-70 micropolitan, out of 800 qualifying areas.  

“This recognition aligns with the palpable momentum we’re seeing in Mt. Sterling, as our city expands its economic footprint, brings in new industries and projects, and attracts high-paying jobs,” said Jason Rainey, Executive for Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Economic Development. “Given our locational advantages, workforce strengths, and robust quality of life, we feel this is truly only the beginning for Mt. Sterling’s potential.”

Rankings Information & Criteria

The Top “Micropolitans” of 2025 rankings are compiled annually by the Conway Projects Database, which tracks corporate real estate projects. To be counted in the database, a project must represent at least $1 million in investment, create at least 20 new jobs, or result in 20,000 square feet or more of new or expanded facility space.

Mt. Sterling boasted two such projects in 2025, including creating a 163-acre industrial park expansion north of the current Woodland Industrial Park. Plans center on significant infrastructure upgrades, including paving new roadways and expanding utilities to accommodate 14 new building lots ranging from 10 to 23 acres.

Per the White House Office of Management and Budget, micropolitans feature a core urban area population of 10,000 to 49,999, along with corresponding economic and social integration measured through commuting patterns. Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County, situated in close proximity to Interstate 64 and with a 2025 population of 28,531, fits squarely into this criteria.

The economic energy seen in Mt. Sterling reflects state-wide momentum in Kentucky, as it ranked second in the U.S. with 13 total “micropolitan” areas and 42 qualifying projects. Two years ago, in 2024, Kentucky ranked sixth.

Mt. Sterling’s Shovel-Ready Industrial Parks

The aforementioned industrial park expansion adds to Mt. Sterling’s portfolio of shovel-ready industrial parks and development land. Combined with proximity to transportation networks, affordable utilities and an overall pro-business local climate, Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County is an ideal location for operations in target industries such as advanced manufacturing, logistics and distribution, food and beverage processing, automotive supply chain, and more.

“We are the third-fastest growing area in the state of Kentucky,” Rainey continued. “Expanding our available industrial parks and being recognized as one of the nation’s top micropolitans is evidence of what’s in store for our communities moving forward: economic growth and increased prosperity.”

Visit Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Economic Development for more information.