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2019 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Alabama Adds Mazda/Toyota Manufacturing USA to Its Auto Roster

The $1.6 billion joint-venture Huntsville plant will create some 4,000 jobs.

Q2 2019
A robot turned the symbolic first shovel of dirt last November at the site of Alabama’s next big auto assembly plant in Huntsville. In 2021, manufacturing robots and some 4,000 humans will begin turning out some 300,000 Mazda and Toyota vehicles a year at the $1.6 billion facility.

Mazda/Toyota Manufacturing USA is building the facility not far from a Toyota engine plant that provides work for 1,400 people. The jointly owned and operated assembly plant will make a new generation of Toyota Corolla vehicles, as well as a Mazda crossover model not yet unveiled.

It’ll be the fourth auto assembly plant to open in Alabama in the past couple of decades. Alabama is now the country’s fifth-biggest auto-producing state, building about a million vehicles every year. At the groundbreaking, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer, Kiyotaka Shobuda, called Huntsville “a city that believes in the possibilities of technology and manufacturing, and has striven to realize mankind’s greatest dream.”

2019 Gold Shovel Awards: The Winning States

  • Texas
  • Georgia
  • Virginia
  • Arizona
  • Alabama
  • Mississippi

2019 Silver Shovel Awards

12+ Million Population Category

  • Florida
  • Illinois
  • New York

8 to 12 Million Population Category

  • Michigan
  • North Carolina

5 to 8 Million Population Category

  • Indiana
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee

3 to 5 Million Population Category

  • Kentucky
  • Nevada
  • Utah

Under 3 Million Population Category

  • Kansas
  • Nebraska
  • Rhode Island
SlideshowTop 2018 Projects By State

2019 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Billion Dollar(s) Projects Of The Year (2018)

Project Location Jobs Investment
Mazda/Toyota Huntsville, AL 4,000 $1.6 billion
Nikola Motor Co. Coolidge, AZ 2,062 $1 billion
Bigelow Aerospace North Las Vegas, NV 30 $6.6 billion
FedEx Memphis, TN 0 $1 billion
Formosa Plastics Point Comfort, TX 340 $5 billion
Cheniere Energy Corpus Christi, TX 430 $3 billion
Lyondell-Basell Channelview, TX 160 $2.4 billion
Covestro Baytown, TX 75 $1.72 billion
Micron Technology Manassas, VA 1,100 $3 billion
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2019 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Top 2018 Projects By State

  • 2018 Top Projects: Texas*

    Population: 28.70


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Amazon Dallas N 1,500 $90 million Distribution
    2. Okin Business Process Services San Antonio N 1,400 $23 million IT Headquarters
    3. Cognizant Technology Irving N 1,090 $2.7 million Regional Tech & Service Delivery Center
    4. Paycom Grapevine N 1,000 N/A IT
    5. Gartner, Inc. Irving E 800 $12 million Software
    6. Formosa Plastics Point Comfort E 340 $5 billion Plastics
    7. Cheniere Energy Corpus Christi N 430 $3 billion Energy - LNG
    8. LyondellBasell Channelview E 160 $2.4 billion Chemicals
    9. Covestro Baytown E 75 $1.72 billion Chemicals
    10. Braskem La Porte E 50 $675 million Polymers
    *Sponsor: Texas Department of Economic Development
  • 2018 Top Projects: Florida

    Population: 21.29 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. PGA Tour St. Johns County E 307 $86 million Headquarters
    2. Webstaurant, Inc. Hillsborough County N 305 $1 million IT
    3. Baker McKenzie Hillsborough County N 300 $3.3 million Headquarters
    4. Nucor Corp. Polk County N 250 $238 million Steel
    5. Pratt & Whitney Palm Beach County E 215 $100.4 million Aircraft Parts
    6. Jinko Solar Duval County N 200 $50.5 million Solar Panels
    7. Wyndham Destinations, Inc. Orange County E 200 $7.5 million Headquarters
    8. Steelco Florida, Inc. Hillsborough County E 195 $130 million Steel Mill
    9. McLane Company, Inc. Marion County N 125 $59 million Distribution
    10. CAE USA Hillsborough County E 100 $48 million Simulation/Training
  • 2018 Top Projects: Illinois

    Population: 12.80 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. World Wide Technology Belleville N 500 $115 million Technology Services
    2. Ikea Joliet N 200 $80 million Distribution
    3. Pinnacle Foods St. Elmo N 110 $54 million Food Mfg.
    4. Salesforce Chicago N 1,000 $475 million Software
    5. Illinicare Health Carbondale N 400 $5.7 million Insurance
    6. S&S Activewear Lockport N 360 $37 million Distribution
    7. Carl Buddig & Co. Montgomery N 350 $30 million Food Mfg.
    8. Berner Food & Beverage Cherry Valley N 200 $25 million Food Mfg.
    9. Bystronic Hoffman Estates N 140 $30 million Machinery
    10. Neuco, Inc. Bolingbrook E 130 $11 million HVAC Parts
  • 2018 Top Projects: New York

    Population: 19.54 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Applied Materials Albany N 300 $600 million Semiconductors
    2. Away New York City E 249 $3 million Headquarters
    3. Blink Health Group LLC New York City E 323 $3 million Healthcare Technology
    4. Broadway National Group Hauppauge E 150 $10 million Headquarters
    5. Green Empire Farms LLC Oneida N 118 $70 million Food Mfg.
    6. NextGen Power Syracuse N 292 $150 million Electronics
    7. Norsk Titanium Plattsburgh N 383 $50 million Aerospace
    8. SungEel MCC Endicott N 86 $23.3 million Batteries
    9. Topiderm Inc. Amityville E 110 $122 million Skincare Products
    10. Regeneron* Rensselaer E 1,500 $837 million Biopharmaceuticals
    *Project of the Year
  • 2018 Top Projects: Georgia*

    Population: 10.52 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Inspire Brands Sandy Springs N 1,100 $32 million Headquarters
    2. BlackRock Atlanta N 1,000 $42.2 million FinTech
    3. Wayfair, Inc. Savannah E 1,000 $45 million Distribution
    4. Norfolk Southern Atlanta N 850 $575 million Headquarters
    5. Fox Factory Holding Corp. Gainesville N 800 $50 million Bicycle/Vehicle Parts
    6. thyssenkrupp AG Atlanta N 650 $200 million Hdqtrs./Innovation Ctr.
    7. Salesforce Atlanta N 600 $12.3 million CRM - Regional Hdqtrs.
    8. Hanwha Q Cells Korea Dalton N 500 $150 million Solar Cells
    9. Facebook Social Circle N 100 $750 million Data Center
    10. Starbucks Atlanta N 500 $16 million FinTech
    *Sponsors: Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Ports Authority
  • 2018 Top Projects: Michigan*

    Population: 9.99 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Ford Motor Company Wayne County E 2,500 $738 million Automotive/Engineering
    2. Amazon Kent County N 2,025 $190 million Distribution
    3. Stryker Corporation Kalamazoo County E 260 $109.8 million Medical Devices
    4. Ashley Capital Oakland County N 613 $85 million Distribution
    5. Loc Performance Products, Inc. Wayne County E 700 $71.5 million Defense/Military
    6. KLA Corporation Washtenaw County N 500 $71.1 million Semiconductor Eqpt.
    7. United Shore Financial Services, LLC Oakland County E 600 $69 million Financial Services
    8. The Kroger Co. Macomb County N 377 $24.9 million Distribution
    9. Morley Companies, Inc. Saginaw County N 525 $5.2 million Professional Services
    10. Nexient Washtenaw County E 300 $4.2 million Information Technology
    *Sponsor: Michigan Economic Development Corp.
  • 2018 Top Projects: North Carolina

    Population: 10.38 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Amazon Mecklenburg County N 1,500 $200 million Distribution
    2. Amazon Wake County N 1,500 $200 million Distribution
    3. AvidXchange Mecklenburg County E 1,229 $41 million FinTech
    4. Mountaire Farms Chatham County E 580 $86 million Food Processing
    5. House of Raeford Farms Duplin County E 488 $75 million Food Processing
    6. Polywood Person County N 384 $35.3 million Furniture
    7. Honeywell Mecklenburg County N 750 $248 million Headquarters
    8. Sonic Automotive Gaston County N 500 $11.2 million Automotive
    9. National General Insurance Forsyth County E 626 $12.2 million Financial Services
    10. Albaad USA Rockingham County E 302 $45 million Personal Care Products
  • 2018 Top Projects: Virginia

    Population: 8.40 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Micron Technology* Manassas E 1,100 $3 billion Semiconductors
    2. 1901 Group Fairfax & Montgomery Counties E 805 $4 million IT
    3. KPMG Fairfax County E 521 $31.4 million Business Services
    4. Monogram Foods Henry County E 300 $30 million Food Products
    5. Discovery, Inc. Loudoun County E 240 $16 million Media Technology
    6. WillowTree, Inc. Albemarle County E 200 $12.3 million Software Development
    7. Speyside Bourbon Cooperage Smyth & Washington Counties N 160 $35 million Stave Mill & Cooperage
    8. TemperPack Henrico County N 141 $10.4 million Thermal Insulation
    9. England Furniture Lee County N 79 $1.3 million Furniture
    10. Service Center Metals Prince George County E 58 $45.2 million Aluminum Extrusions
    *Project of the Year
  • 2018 Top Projects: Arizona*

    Population: 7.17 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Allstate Chandler N 2,530 $38.9 million Banking/Finance/Insurance
    2. Deloitte Tax LLP Gilbert N 2,500 $37.5 million IT
    3. The Money Source Phoenix N 500 $7.5 million Banking/Finance/Insurance
    4. Nikola Motor Co.* Coolidge N 2,062 $1 billion Commercial Trucks
    5. Amazon Tucson N 1,500 $145 million Logistics/Distribution
    6. Freedom Financial Network Tempe N 1,100 $20 million Banking/Finance/Insurance
    7. Voya Financial, Inc. Chandler N 1,060 $60.6 million Banking & Finance
    8. Infosys Phoenix N 1,000 $18.3 million IT
    9. Cognizant Technology Solutions Phoenix E 921 $4.6 million IT
    10. Nationwide Realty Investors Scottsdale N 514 $139 million Banking & Finance
    *Sponsor: Arizona Commerce Authority
    *Project of the Year
  • 2018 Top Projects: Indiana

    Population: 6.69 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. GEICO Indianapolis E 1,474 $16.5 million Insurance
    2. Amazon Greenwood N 1,250 $80 million Distribution
    3. Sweetwater Sound, Inc. Fort Wayne E 1,009 $76.4 million Warehousing
    4. Infosys Ltd. Indianapolis N 1,000 $224.1 million Professional & Technical Services
    5. U.S. Steel Corp. Gary E 0 $750 million Steel
    6. Lehigh Cement Co. LLC Mitchell E 52 $548 million Cement
    7. United Collection. Bureau, Inc. Jeffersonville N 621 $2.5 million Business Support Services
    8. Fulcrum Centerpoint, LLC Gary N 163 $567 million Petrochemicals
    9. SF Motors, Inc. Mishawaka N 467 $159.1 million Automotive
    10. Indiana NAP LLC Hammond N 45 $201 million Data Processing/Hosting
  • 2018 Top Projects: South Carolina*

    Population: 5.08 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Google Berkeley County E 0 $600 million Data Center
    2. Keurig Dr. Pepper Spartanburg County N 500 $350 million Packaging
    3. Roundpoint Mortgage York County E 1,100 $34 million Financial Services
    4. JW Aluminum Berkeley County E 50 $255 million Aluminum
    5. Becton, Dickinson and Co. Sumter County E 125 $150 million Medical Equipment
    6. Zeus Industrial Products Calhoun County E 350 $76 million Polymers
    7. ServiceMac, LLC Lancaster County N 1,000 $24 million Financial Services
    8. W International Berkeley County N 600 $35.2 million Welded Metal Products
    9. Draexlmaier Automotive of America Spartanburg County E 460 $42.7 million Automotive
    10. Samsung Electronics Greenville County N 400 N/A Customer Service
    *Sponsor: Santee Cooper
  • 2018 Top Projects: Tennessee*

    Population: 6.85 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Amazon Nashville N 5,000 $230 million Corporate Offices
    2. AllianceBernstein L.P. Nashville N 1,050 $71.5 million Corporate Offices
    3. FedEx Memphis E 0 $1 billion Freight/Trucking
    4. DENSO Athens E 320 $190 million Motor Vehicle Parts
    5. Van Hool Morristown N 640 $47 million Heavy Duty Trucks
    6. Indigo Ag, Inc. Memphis E 700 $6.6 million R&D
    7. Asurion, Inc. Nashville E 400 $288 million Insurance & Pension Administration
    8. Oshkosh Corp. Jefferson City N 359 $30.6 million Automotive
    9. Keep Truckin, Inc. Nashville E 386 $3.5 million Software Publishing
    10. Ernst & Young LLP Nashville E 600 $22.7 million Business Services
    *Sponsor: Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
  • 2018 Top Projects: Alabama*

    Population: 4.90 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Mazda/Toyota* Huntsville N 4,000 $1.6 billion Automotive
    2. Amazon Bessemer N 1,500 $325 million Distribution
    3. Mercedes-Benz U.S. Int’l. Bibb County N 325 $268 million Automotive
    4. Haier U.S. Appliance Solutions, Inc. Decatur E 255 $115 million Appliance Manufacturing & Distribution
    5. Airbus Mobile Mobile E 432 $264 million Aerospace
    6. Facebook Huntsville N 100 $750 million Data Center
    7. Shipt Birmingham E 881 $10 million e-Commerce/Distribution
    8. Kimber Manufacturing Inc. Troy N 366 $38 million Firearms
    9. Lockheed Martin Corp. Troy E 60 $130 million Aerospace
    10. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama LLC Montgomery E 75 $388 million Automotive
    *Sponsor: Alabama Department of Commerce
    *Project of the Year
  • 2018 Top Projects: Kentucky*

    Population: 4.40 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Beam Distillery Bullitt County E 5 $585 million Distillery
    2. Nucor Steel Gallatin County E 70 $650 million Steel
    3. Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc. Marion County E 24 $463.8 million Distillery
    4. Novelis Corp. Todd County N 125 $304.9 million Aluminum
    5. GE Appliance Park Jefferson County E 400 $200 million Household Appliances
    6. Global Win Wickliffe, LLC Ballard County N 500 $150 million Paper Packaging
    7. Century Aluminum Hancock E 250 $116.5 million Aluminum
    8. Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls, Inc. Hart County E 134 $74 million Food Processing
    9. Independent Stave Co. Rowan County N 220 $66.5 million Wood Barrels
    10. Kobelco Aluminum Warren County E 115 $48.5 million Aluminum
    *Sponsor: Kentucky Cabinet For Economic Development
  • 2018 Top Projects: Nevada

    Population: 3.03 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Axion Corp. Reno N 511 $27.6 million Engineering/Manufacturing/Distribution
    2. Sephora USA, Inc. North Las Vegas N 460 $36 million Logistics
    3. MECP1 Reno 1, LLC Reno N 50 $106.8 million Data Center
    4. KRS Global Biotechnology, Inc. Henderson N 160 $34.6 million Pharmaceuticals
    5. AeroSpec NDT Services, Inc. Lyon County N 85 $124.6 million Aerospace/Defense Services
    6. Bigelow Aerospace North Las Vegas E 30 $6.6 billion Aerospace/Defense
    7. VM Innovations Henderson E 56 $60.8 mllion Aviation Services
    8. Scientific Games Corp. Las Vegas E 300 $2 million Business/IT
    9. Design, LLC Henderson N 50 $300 million Data Center
    10. C4 Mining Co. Inc. Clark County City N 30 $25.4 million Business/IT
  • 2018 Top Projects: Utah

    Population: 3.16 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Clarus Corp. Holladay E 147 $40 million Headquarters
    2. GoHealth Lindon N 363 $900,000 Insurance
    3. Canopy Tax Lehi E 538 $7.5 million IT/Technology
    4. Amer Sports Ogden E 155 $32 million Headquarters
    5. HealthEquity Salt Lake Cty. E 500 $29.8 million FinTech
    6. Lending Club Salt Lake Cty. N 860 $17.9 million FinTech
    7. Bullfrog Spas Herriman E 150 $20 million Hot Tubs
    8. Merit Medical Salt Lake Cty. E 1,010 $505 million Medical Devices
    9. Sarcos Corp. Salt Lake City E 292 $2.4 million Tech/Robotics
    10. Moog Inc. Salt Lake Cty. E 120 $2.2 million Defense/Aerospace
  • 2018 Top Projects: Mississippi*

    Population: 2.98 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Amazon Marshall County N 850 $45 million Distribution
    2. SYNNEX Corp. Desoto County E 600 $20 million Electrical Components
    3. Pearl River Foods Leake County E 450 $1 million Poultry Processing
    4. Toyota Lee County E 400 $170 million Automotive
    5. Williams-Sonoma Lee County E 350 $18.5 million Furniture
    6. Raytheon Scott County E 45 $100 million Radar
    7. DMC Power Desoto County N 125 $8 million Connection Systems
    8. Auto Parts Manufacturing Mississippi Lee County E 50 $100 million Automotive Parts
    9. Peco Foods Clay County E 300 $40 million Poultry Processing
    10. Unified Brands Warren County E 250 $9.5 million Food Equipment
    *Sponsor: Mississippi Development Authority
  • 2018 Top Projects: Kansas*

    Population: 2.92 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Element, LLC Colwich N 60 $180 million Ethanol
    2. Viega, LLC McPherson E 40 $210 million Valves/Pipe Fittings
    3. Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. Wichita E 1,400 N/A Aircraft Parts
    4. Resers Fine Foods Topeka E 60 $74 million Food Processing
    5. Scavuzzo’s Inc. Kansas City N 70 $100 million Logistics/Distribution
    6. Palmer Manufacturing & Tank Inc. Garden Ctiy E 201 $16.6 million Metal Fabrication
    7. Orizon Aerostructures, LLC Olathe E 400 $127.3 million Aviation Parts
    8. GEICO Lenexa N 500 $9.8 million Insurance
    9. Camso Manufacturing USA, Ltd. Junction City E 41 $44 million Rubber Products
    10. Overstock.com Kansas City N 200 $14.2 million Logistics/Distribution
    *Sponsor: Kansas Department of Commerce
  • 2018 Top Projects: Nebraska*

    Population: 1.92 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Michael Foods Bloomfield E 100 $150 million Food Processing
    2. Facebook Papillion E 100 $500 million Data Center
    3. Becton Dickinson Columbus E 200 $125 million Medical Devices
    4. i2c Omaha N 300 $30 million Financial Services
    5. Ingredion South Sioux City E 40 $84.2 million Food Processing
    6. BuilderTrend Omaha E 300 $8.6 million Construction Software
    7. Rattlesnake Creek Wind Farm Allen N 12 $470 million Wind Energy
    8. LDI Omaha Box Co. Papillion E 20 $45 million Box Manufacturing
    9. Sholes Wind Energy Center (Nextra) Wayne N 10 $250 million Wind Energy
    10. Wholestone Foods Fremont E 500 $180 million Food Processing
    *Sponsor: Nebraska Department of Economic Development
  • 2018 Top Projects: Rhode Island*

    Population: 1.06 million


    Company City N/E Job Creation Investment Industry
    1. Electric Boat Corp. North Kingstown E 1,309 million $792.1 Shipbuilding
    2. Immunex Rhode Island Corp. Kent E 146 $164.1 million Pharmaceuticals
    3. Infinity Meat Solutions, LLC North Kingstown N 702 110.2 million Food Packaging
    4. iXblue Defense Systems, Inc. Lincoln N 22 $2.9 million Defense
    5. Rubius Therapeutics, Inc. Smithfield N 154 $188 million Biopharmaceuticals
    *Sponsor: Rhode Island Commerce Corp.
    *Project of the Year
  • 2019 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Billion Dollar(s) Projects Of The Year (2018)

    Project Location Jobs Investment
    Mazda/Toyota Huntsville, AL 4,000 $1.6 billion
    Nikola Motor Co. Coolidge, AZ 2,062 $1 billion
    Bigelow Aerospace North Las Vegas, NV 30 $6.6 billion
    FedEx Memphis, TN 0 $1 billion
    Formosa Plastics Point Comfort, TX 340 $5 billion
    Cheniere Energy Corpus Christi, TX 430 $3 billion
    Lyondell-Basell Channelview, TX 160 $2.4 billion
    Covestro Baytown, TX 75 $1.72 billion
    Micron Technology Manassas, VA 1,100 $3 billion

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