A national industrial site selection publication has rankedBrookhaven among the Top 100 small towns in the country.

Brookhaven came in at No. 74 on Site Selection magazine’s Top100 Small Towns list, appearing in its March issue. Homeseeker’s Paradise was one of eight Mississippi cities to make the list.

“We’ve been telling the world for the last four or five years that we’re a great place to locate from an automotive standpoint,”said Chandler Russ, Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce executive vice-president.

Russ cited approximately $20 million in expansions at the DelphiPackard Electric Systems plant on Industrial Park Road in recent years The additions focused on the company’s plastic molding operation and liquid silicone automotive parts process.

“The investment made in that facility was one of the reasons we were selected,” Russ said.

In its survey, the magazine assessed economic growth from new and expanded businesses. The magazine credited Brookhaven with six such facilities from 2001-03.

About a year and a half ago, Russ said Brookhaven made the shortlist of three potential sites for a DaimlerChrysler plant that ultimately ended up in Ohio. That showing, though, continued to boost Brookhaven’s status as an automotive site, Russ said.

The automotive industry will continue to look to the South when considering expansions, he said.

“We’ve been an automotive destination for many years,” Russs aid. “I’m proud to know the rest of the world is finding that out.”

Among Mississippi communities on the magazine’s list, Brookhaven tied at No. 74 with Booneville, Columbus, Greenwood and Starkville.Tupelo was the highest state city at No. 18, while Corinth andHattiesburg each came in at No. 37.

Traverse City, Mich., was No. 1 on the Site Selection list for the second year in a row.

With eight cities on the list, Mississippi was fourth-highest among states. Illinois was first with 15 cities in the Top 100.

Brookhaven’s reputation as a top site continues to show the need for additional industrial property, Russ said.

Chamber and Industrial Development Foundation efforts to find and develop a new industrial park have been aided by city and county support. After city aldermen voted to support the project last year, Lincoln County supervisors on Monday followed suit in choosing to back the land effort.

Russ expected the new park, once built, would further boostBrookhaven’s economic climate.’

“The addition of the industrial park will help us continue to grow and prosper,” Russ said.