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2018 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Arizona, Indiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee Awarded Silver Shovels - States with 5 to 8 Million Population

Q2 2018

Arizona — 5+ Million to 8 Million Category Arizona cashed in on financial and business services projects on its way to earning a Silver Shovel for 2017. Leading the way in jobs promised was the expansion at Concentrix in Tempe. The strategy and analytics provider plans to add more than 1,500 to the payroll. Bank of the West will add a thousand new jobs at its campus in Tempe. In total, more than 2,000 additional jobs were promised in the business/financial services sector by Northern Trust, Brightside Benefit, and DexCom.

2017 Top Projects: Arizona

Population: 7.02 Million


Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
1. Ball Corp. Goodyear N 130 $240.9 million Beverage Packaging
2. United Parcel Service Goodyear N 105 $180 million Logistics
3. Monsanto Pima County N 30 $94.6 million Agribusiness
4. DexCom, Inc.* Mesa N 896 $44.9 million Business/Financial Services
5. Benchmark Electronics Tempe N 629 $35.5 million Headquarters
6. Chewy, Inc. Goodyear N 1,200 $30 million Warehouse/Distribution/td>
7. Bank of the West Tempe N 1,000 $25 million Business/Financial Services
8. Brightside Benefit, Inc. Chandler E 582 $16.7 million Business/Financial Services
9. Northern Trust - Tempe Tempe E 575 $24.7 million Business/Financial Services
10. Concentrix Tempe E 1,538 $14.5 million Business/Financial Services
*Represents a state/local sponsor

But the logistics sector was busy making announcements, too, led by the plan for 1,200 jobs at Chewy Inc., the online pet products retailer creating a distribution hub in Goodyear. United Parcel Service will also add jobs in Goodyear, as will packaging manufacturer Ball Corp., which unveiled plans for a metal beverage can plant. Meanwhile, Benchmark Electronics cited a strategic partnership with Arizona State University as one of the reasons it picked Tempe for its headquarters.

Indiana — 5+ Million to 8 Million Category The Hoosier state tapped into its traditional strength in logistics and its emerging strength in information technology for its biggest 2017 prizes on the way to earning a Silver Shovel. XPO Logistics Supply Chain picked a site just northwest of Indianapolis for a 1,000+-employee distribution hub, taking over a giant building that had been a book distribution center. To the west of Indianapolis, United Parcel Service will invest more than $260 million in a major expansion. And to the south, Dia Styling Co. found a site for a clothing e-commerce distribution center in Greenwood.

2017 Top Projects: Indiana

Population: 6.67 Million


Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
1. Infosys Limited Indianapolis N 2,000 $8.7 million Information Technology
2. XPO Logistics Supply Chain, Inc. Lebanon N 1,160 $49.4 million Logistics/Distribution
3. Dia Styling Co. Greenwood N 872 $2.7 million E-Commerce Distribution
4. Concentrix Corp. Daleville E 750 $4.9 million Business Services
5. United Parcel Service Plainfield E 578 $261.3 million Logistics
6. Brightpoint Services, LLC Jeffersonville N 550 $39.8 million Healthcare Services
7. Medline Industries, Inc. Jeffersonville E 500 $50 million Healthcare Products
8. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP Mount Vernon E 95 $249.9 million Pharmaceuticals
9. BWI Indiana Inc. Greenfield N 441 $81.7 million Automotive
10. Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. Lafayette E 200 $141.3 million Automotive

As for IT, India-based Infosys decided to land its new technology hub at the site of the former Indianapolis International Airport terminal. The company had already shared plans in 2017 to bring 2,000 jobs to Indianapolis, and when in April 2018 it decided precisely where, Infosys upped its potential employment total by another thousand jobs. Other Indiana projects built upon the state’s long history in automotive manufacturing, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals.

South Carolina — 5+ Million to 8 Million Category The big news driving South Carolina’s Silver Shovel had largely to do with the state’s ever-growing automotive sector. Volvo’s expansion plans near Charleston are slated to bring in 1,900 more jobs than originally planned at the site, and BMW’s Spartanburg plans are good for as many as another thousand. Beyond the assembly plants, there’s healthy growth among suppliers, too, ranging from Robert Bosch to BorgWarner to Gestamp.

But autos aren’t everything in South Carolina. Samsung Electronics America announced plans to make washing machines in Newberry, and just six months later started rolling appliances off the line. Trane announced an expansion of its Richland County operations that could ultimately more than double its job count. And orthopedic medical device maker Arthrex picked Anderson County for manufacturing operations that ultimately will provide work for a thousand.

2017 Top Projects: South Carolina

Population: 5.02 Million


Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
1. Volvo Car USA, LLC Berkeley E1,910 $620 million Automotive
2. BMW Manufacturing Spartanburg E 1,000 $600 million Automotive Co., LLC
3. Samsung Electronics America Newberry N 950 $380 million Consumer Electronics
4. Roseburg Forest Products Chester N 145 $200 million Forestry Products
5. Gestamp South Carolina, LLC Union E 130 $129 million Automotive
6. Trane US, Inc. Richland E 700 $96 million Metal & Fabricated Products
7. Arthrex, Inc. Anderson N 1,000 $69 million Life Sciences
8. Ruiz Food Products, Inc. Florence E 705 $79 million Agricultural Processing
9. BorgWarner, Inc. Oconee E 160 $71.9 million Automotive
10. Robert Bosch LLC Anderson E 130 $152 million Automotive

Tennessee — 5+ Million to 8 Million Category In earning its Silver Shovel this year, Tennessee eagerly displayed the diversity of its manufacturing economy. Measured by number of jobs, the biggest deal was Tyson Foods’ choice of Humboldt for a chicken-processing plant that will eventually employ as many as 1,500 people. By dollars invested, the top prize was the billion-dollar expansion of Denso Manufacturing Tennessee’s operation in Maryville, where the company plans to add a thousand jobs making parts for electric cars. Textile Corp. of America promised a thousand jobs at a headquarters and manufacturing operation in Pikeville.

2017 Top Projects: Tennessee*

Population: 6.65 Million


Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
1. Tyson Foods Inc. Humboldt N 1,500 $320 million Poultry Processing
2. Denso Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. Maryville E 1,000 $1 billion Automotive
3. Textile Corp. of America Pikeville N 1,000 $27.1 million Textile/Fabric Finishing
4. Philips North America, Inc. Nashville N 815 $17 million Corporate Offices
5. Amazon Memphis N 600 $35 million E-Commerce Fulfillment
6. LG Group Clarksville N 600 $250.6 million Electrical Appliances
7. Nokian Tyres Dayton N 400 $360 million Tires
8. Mohawk Industries, Inc. Dickson E 245 $142 million Clay Building Material
9. Five Star Custom Foods Nashville E 138 $146 million Food Products
10. Granges Americas, Inc. Huntingdon N 107 $110 million Aluminum Products
*Represents a state/local sponsor

The diversity story continues the further down the list you look. There’s electrical appliance manufacturing in Clarksville, tire manufacturing in Dayton, food processing in Nashville, aluminum in Huntingdon, and clay building materials in Dickson. Beyond that, Philips North America relocated corporate offices to Nashville, and Amazon picked Memphis for another of its fulfillment operations.

2018 Gold Shovel Awards: The Winning States

  • Texas
  • North Carolina
  • Wisconsin
  • Kentucky
  • Nevada
Read More

2018 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Billion Dollar(s) Projects Of The Year (2017)

Project Location Jobs Investment
Switch Lithia Springs, GA 65 jobs $1 billion
Apple Inc. Waukee, IA50 jobs $1.3 billion
Amazon Hebron, KY2,700 jobs $1.5 billion
Toyota Motor Manufacturing KY Georgetown, KY1,209 jobs $1.3 billion
Lotte Chemical Louisiana Calcasieu Parish, LA130 jobs $1.13 billion
Wanhua Chemical Group T/B/D, LA170 jobs $1.12 billion
Ford Motor Co. Flat Rock, MI 700 jobs $1.2 billion
Invenergy LLC, GE, American Electric Power Texas County, OK0 jobs $4.5 billion
Denso Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. Maryville, TN1,000 jobs $1 billion
ExxonMobil - SABIC Portland, TX 600 jobs $10 billion
Facebook Henrico County, VA100 jobs $1 billion
Foxconn Mount Pleasant, WI13,000 jobs $10 billion

2018 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Large Job-Creating Projects Of The Year (2017)

Project Location Jobs Investment
Chewy, Inc. Goodyear, AZ1,200 jobs $30 million
Bank of the West Tempe, AZ1,000 jobs$25 million
Concentrix Tempe, AZ 1,538 jobs $14.5 million
General Motors San Francisco, CA 1,163 jobs $14 million
Amazon North Haven, CT1,800 jobs $255 million
Charter Communications Stamford, CT1,100 jobs $100 million
ASOS Union City, GA 1,620 jobs $42 million
Luxottica Group NA McDonough, GA 1,000 jobs $78 million
Amazon Jefferson, GA 1,000 jobs N/A
Infosys Ltd. Indianapolis, IN2,000 jobs $8.7 million
XPO Logistics Supply Chain, Inc. Lebanon, IN 1,160 jobs $49.4 million
Amazon Hebron, KY 2,700 jobs $1.5 billion
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky Georgetown, KY 1,209 jobs $1.3billion
Diversified Consultants Inc. Louisville, KY 1,000 jobs $6.7 million
DXC Orleans Parish, LA2,000 jobs N/A
Amazon Baltimore City, MD1,500 jobs $225 million
Amazon Romulus, MI 1,600 jobs $140 million
Centria Healthcare Farmington Hills, MI1,200 jobs $10 million
Amazon Shelby Charter Twp., MI1,025 jobs $40 million
24/7 In Touch Clark Cty., NV 1,200 jobs $1.3 million
Amazon Staten Island, NYC2,250 jobs $100 million
Amazon Manhattan, NYC2,000 jobs $55 million
Strategic Financial Solutions Amherst, NY1,547 jobs $2.1 million
Tesla - Solar City Buffalo, NY1,460 jobs N/A
Spotify Manhattan, NYC 1,050 jobs $200 million
EY Manhattan, NYC 1,152 jobs $279.8 million
Allstate Mecklenburg Cty., NC2,250 jobs $22.6 million
Infosys Wake Cty., NC 2,000 jobs $8.7 million
Credit Suisse Wake Cty., NC1,200 jobs $65 million
Amazon North Randal, OHl 2,000 jobs $100 million
Ensemble HP, LLC Blue Ash, OH 1,100 jobs $34 million
Volvo Car USA, LLC Berkeley, SC 1,910 jobs $620 million
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC Spartanburg, SC 1,000 jobs $600 million
Arthrex, Inc. Anderson, SC1,000 jobs $69 million
Tyson Foods Inc. Humboldt, TN 1,500 jobs $320 million
Denso Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. Maryville, TN 1,000 jobs $1 billion
Textile Corp. of America Pikeville, TN 1,000 jobs $27.1 million
NTT Data Corp. Plano, TX 6,377 jobs $28.8 million
Nutri Biotech USA Garland, TX 1,600 jobs $100 million
USAA San Antonio, TX 1,500 jobs $70 million
United Parcel Arlington, TX1,400 jobs$22.7 million
C3 McGregor, TX 1,200 jobs $1.35 million
Pluralsight South Jordan, UT 2,464 jobs $371.8 million
Adobe Lehi, UT1,260 jobs $90 million
Navy Federal Credit Union Frederick Cty., VA 1,400 jobs $100 million
Favor Tech-Consulting, LLC Fairfax Cty., VA 1,200 jobs $1.7 million
Foxconn Mount Pleasant, WI 13,000 jobs $10 billion


MethodologyArea Development’s annual Gold and Silver Shovel Awards recognize states for their achievements in attracting high-value investment projects that will create a significant number of new jobs in their communities. We collected information from all 50 states about their top-10 job-creation and investment projects initiated in 2017 (only those projects that actually had monies invested, “broke ground,” began an expansion, started new hiring, etc. were considered). Based on a combination of weighted factors — including the number of new jobs to be created in relation to the state’s population, the combined dollar amount of the investments, the number of new facilities, the diversity of industry represented — five states achieving the highest weighted overall scores were awarded Area Development’s 2018 Gold Shovels in five population categories: 12+ million, 8+ to 12 million, 5+ to 8 million, 3+ to 5 million, and fewer than 3 million. Runners-up in each of these population categories were awarded 2018 Silver Shovels.

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