Out of 200 localities on the Forbes 2018 list of Best Small Places for Business and Careers in the 
United States, the Winchester-Frederick County area ranks 11th, up two spots from 13th in 2017.
The No. 1 ranking went to Sioux Falls, S.D., for the second year in a row.
Patrick Barker, executive director for the Frederick County Economic Development Authority, said the improved ranking is confirmation of the region’s economic success over the past five to 10 years.
“It’s pretty phenomenal,” Barker said.
Some factors he thinks contributed to the ranking include feedback that the area has a good supply of labor and that the labor force is reliable.
