Area Development, a leading publication covering site selection and facility planning, recently announced the recipients of the 2012 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards and Alabama has been named an award winner for six years in a row.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said, “More companies are taking note of the positive business climate we have developed here in Alabama, and we are honored to receive the Silver Shovel award once again. I remain committed to encouraging companies to locate and expand here in Alabama. And I want to thank our economic development leaders at the state and local levels for working in a collaborative manner to show the world that Alabama is open for business.”
Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said the state’s excellent climate for business has helped it receive the honor every year since Area Development’s inception of the award. Alabama received a Gold Shovel in 2006 and Silver Shovels in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.
The Shovel Awards recognize state economic development agencies that drive significant job creation through innovative policies, infrastructure improvements, processes and promotions that attract new employers as well as investments in expanded facilities. The shovels are presented annually to the states that have achieved the most success in terms of new job creation and economic impact.
For the Silver Shovel Awards, the states are compared only to other states in their population tier. This year, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio will receive Silver Shovels in the 9+ million population group; Arizona, Missouri, Indiana, and Virginia are being awarded Silver Shovels in the 5+ to 9 million category; Alabama, Louisiana, and Kentucky will receive Silver Shovels in the 3+ to 5 million category; and Kansas, Mississippi, and Idaho are being honored in the 3 million or fewer population group.
Each of the 50 states was invited by Area Development to submit information about its top-10 job creation and investment projects. Only those projects that began to materialize in 2011 were considered. The Shovel Awards are given to the states with the highest weighted scores based on number of high-valued added jobs per capita, amount of investment, number of new facilities, and industry diversity.
"As the economy slowly recovers, communities are going to great lengths to attract new businesses and to help their existing corporate citizens to expand their business," said Geraldine Gambale, editor of Area Development. “The states receiving 2012 Shovel Awards deserve special recognition for their efforts.”
A report on the 2012 Shovel Award winners has been published in the Summer 2012 issue of Area Development and posted online at www.areadevelopment.com/awards.
Area Development is published bi-monthly and has 45,000+ executive subscribers. It also maintains several highly visited websites, which can be reached through www.areadevelopment.com.