Utah (1 of 7)

Spencer P. Eccles, Executive Director, Governor's Office of Economic Development; Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert; and Dave Melcher, CEO, Exelis Inc. (L to R) are shown here with Utah's Gold Shovel award in the 3 million or fewer-population category. The Exelis project was also chosen as a 2011 Project of the Year.

South Carolina (2 of 7)

South Carolina's Governor Nikki Haley R. Haley shows off her state's 2012 Gold Shovel award in the in the 3+ to 5 million-population category.

Tennessee (3 of 7)

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam accepts the Gold Shovel award in the 5+ to 9 million-population category.

Kansas (4 of 7)

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback (left) and Secretary of Commerce Pat George pose with Kansas' Silver Shovel award in the 3 million or fewer-population category.

Indiana (5 of 7)

Indiana's Secretary of Commerce Dan Hasler poses with the state's 2012 Silver Shovel award in the 5+ to 9 million-population category.

Kentucky (6 of 7)

Governor Steve Beshear accepts Kentucky's 2012 Silver Shovel award in the 3+ to 5 million-population category.

2012 Gold Shovel Articles:

2012 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Recognizing Excellence in U.S. State Economic Development and Job Creation

2012 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Utah awarded Gold Shovel

2012 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio Awarded Silver Shovels - States with Populations over 9 Million

2012 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Arizona, Missouri, Indiana, and Virginia Awarded Silver Shovels - States with 5+ to 9 million Population

2012 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Alabama, Louisiana, and Kentucky Awarded Silver Shovels - States with 3+ to 5 million Population

2012 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Kansas, Mississippi, and Idaho Awarded Silver Shovels - States with Populations Less than 3 Million

2012 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Investment Projects of the Year