In the two decades since Area Development first started its State Shovel Awards, the economic development landscape has been remade several times over. We’ve watched the rise and partial retreat of the EV gigaplant era, the return of semiconductor fabrication to American soil, the explosive buildout of data center infrastructure, and a pharmaceutical renaissance driven by post-pandemic supply chain recalibration. Through all of it, the states that earn Shovel Awards have been at the center of the action — moving fast, thinking strategically, and landing the kinds of projects that define regional economies for a generation.

This year’s awards reflect a moment of unusual intensity. Capital is still moving — and moving at scale — even as companies navigate a more complex policy environment, shifting trade dynamics, and the ongoing challenge of building a workforce ready for advanced manufacturing. The projects behind this year’s awards span semiconductors and solar, aerospace and biomanufacturing, data infrastructure and distilled spirits. What they share is consequence: each one reflects a real bet, by a real company, on a real place.

Each year, Area Development’s State Shovel Awards are given in five population categories to ensure fair comparisons. The Platinum Shovel recognizes the single most outstanding performer across all categories. New this year: the Data Center Project of the Year. Data center projects are evaluated in their own standalone category. The volume and scale of data center investment has grown to the point where including it in the broader rankings was skewing results and effectively disadvantaging states with strong manufacturing portfolios. Separating it out gives every category of investment the recognition it deserves.

Platinum Shovel Winner:
North Carolina (8 to 12 Million Population)

North Carolina’s Platinum Shovel this year is the product of extraordinary range — not just in dollar figures, but in the breadth of industries the state has managed to attract, retain, and grow simultaneously. From aerospace to biomanufacturing, from renewable energy to financial services, the Tar Heel State demonstrated in 2026 that it has built something more durable than a hot streak. It has built an ecosystem.

The headline project is JetZero, the California-based blended-wing aircraft developer that selected Greensboro for a $4.7 billion manufacturing facility expected to create more than 14,500 jobs — the single largest job-creation commitment in this year’s entire award cycle. It is a transformative bet on the future of aerospace, and North Carolina’s selection signals that the state’s aviation workforce, logistics infrastructure, and research corridor were simply too compelling to pass up.

Scout Motors is planting a major automotive presence in Charlotte with a $206 million commitment and 1,200 jobs, while Jabil’s $500 million tech and software investment in Salisbury demonstrates that capital-intensive, low-headcount advanced manufacturing is finding a home here too. Vulcan Elements adds $918 million and 1,000 jobs in raw materials and mining in Benson — a sector that doesn’t always make the life sciences headlines but anchors industrial supply chains.

Life sciences remain a North Carolina calling card. Novartis is expanding across Durham and Morrisville with a $771 million investment and 700 new positions, while Genentech’s $700 million R&D and innovation hub in Holly Springs adds another 420 jobs to the Research Triangle’s already formidable biotech cluster.

Financial services are growing too — Aspida is bringing 1,000 jobs to Durham, and Citigroup Technology is adding 510 positions in Charlotte alongside Maersk North America’s 520-job transportation hub. Consumer products manufacturer Zhejiang Kingsun Eco-pack Co. brings 500 jobs to Robbinsville, and Lenovo rounds out the roster with 420 positions in Whitsett.

Taken together, North Carolina’s 2026 project portfolio is a masterclass in diversification. No single sector dominates, no single metro carries the weight, and no single type of capital defines the story. That balance — hard-won and carefully cultivated — is exactly what a Platinum Shovel is meant to recognize.

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Gold Shovel Winners:
Outstanding Performance by Population Category

Texas (12+ Million Population)

Texas takes home the Gold Shovel in the largest population category for another year, anchored by a project slate that reflects the state’s growing centrality to the digital economy. Southwest Airlines is planting 2,000 jobs in Austin with a $19 million commitment, and Tesla is expanding in Brookshire with $190 million and 1,500 new positions. But the project that defines Texas’s 2026 story is Wistron’s $761 million advanced manufacturing and AI facility in Fort Worth — a manufacturing project of the year that positions the state at the intersection of physical production and artificial intelligence.

Life sciences are taking root. Lilly’s $6.5 billion commitment in Harris County is one of the largest pharmaceutical investments in the state’s history, adding 615 jobs and anchoring a biomanufacturing corridor outside Houston. MTU Aero Engines AG rounds out the aerospace picture with 1,200 jobs and $129 million in Fort Worth

Food processing and consumer products continue to diversify the portfolio. Bridor USA is bringing 600 jobs and $410 million to Lancaster, and SPC Group adds 450 jobs in Burleson. The energy sector keeps pace with Space Exploration’s $280 million investment in Bastrop and Vinton Steel’s $229 million metal recycling operation in El Paso. Scotiabank’s 1,020-job financial services hub in Dallas and Wiwynn Corp’s 514-job tech operation in Socorro round out a roster that touches virtually every corner of a $2 trillion economy.

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Virginia (8 to 12 Million Population)

Virginia earns the Gold Shovel in its population category with a project slate built on depth and strategic coherence. The commonwealth attracted major wins in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, energy, defense, and tech — and did so across a geography that stretches from the D.C. suburbs to the Southside.

Eli Lilly’s $5 billion pharma manufacturing facility in Richmond is a manufacturing project of the year and one of the most significant life sciences investments in state history, bringing 650 new jobs and reaffirming Virginia’s emerging role in pharmaceutical production. AstraZeneca adds another $4.5 billion and 600 jobs in Charlottesville, making Virginia one of the most active pharma states in the nation this year.

On the tech and software front, Systems Planning and Analysis brings 1,200 jobs to Alexandria, and 22nd Century Technologies adds 880 positions in McLean. Amazon’s $500 million distribution and warehousing hub in Rockville creates 1,000 jobs. LS Cable America’s $690 million raw materials and mining operation in Chesapeake — a manufacturing project of the year — adds 433 positions and strengthens the state’s role in infrastructure supply chains.

Hitachi Energy brings $457 million and 825 jobs in energy renewables to South Boston. Defense is represented by Elbit Systems of America in Roanoke with 288 jobs. LEGO Systems in Prince George adds 305 jobs in transportation, and Dover Food Retail rounds out the roster with 300 jobs in refrigeration systems in Chesterfield. Virginia’s ability to compete across this many sectors simultaneously is what earns it the Gold.

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Arizona (5 to 8 Million Population)

Arizona reclaims Gold Shovel honors in the 5-to-8-million population category with a year defined by semiconductor dominance and surprising sector diversity. The headline is Amkor Technology’s $5 billion chip investment in Peoria — a manufacturing project of the year — creating 3,000 jobs and cementing Arizona’s status as one of the most important nodes in the domestic semiconductor supply chain. It joins a deepening cluster that includes Applied Materials in Chandler, KPPC Advanced Chemicals in Casa Grande, NRS Logistics in Casa Grande, and Cyclic Materials in Mesa — all reinforcing the full stack of chip-related manufacturing.

Consumer products punch above their weight this year. Axon’s $307 million headquarters operation in Scottsdale brings an extraordinary 5,500 jobs — the largest single employment commitment in Arizona’s 2026 project roster — and signals that the state’s talent base extends well beyond the fab floor. Komatsu adds 100 jobs in Mesa in raw materials and mining, and Moses Lake Industries contributes 40 specialty chemical positions.

Energy and climate tech are growing. Apex Power Conversion brings 700 renewable energy jobs to Mesa, GTI Energy adds 250 positions in Goodyear, and Eternity Technologies contributes battery components manufacturing in Phoenix. Hadrian’s $200 million aerospace investment in Mesa adds 350 jobs. CarbonCapture’s carbon storage hub, also in Mesa, is one of the more forward-looking plays in the state’s portfolio. From chips to carbon, Arizona’s 2026 slate proves it is building for the long term.

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Louisiana (3 to 5 Million Population)

Louisiana earns the Gold Shovel this year on the strength of a project portfolio that reflects both industrial depth and a rapidly expanding role in the nation’s energy and technology future. The state landed major commitments across automotive manufacturing, data infrastructure, clean energy, metals, and advanced industrial production, with investments spread across both established hubs and emerging markets.

Meta’s $10 billion data center campus in Richland Parish — a non-manufacturing project of the year — stands among the largest economic development announcements in state history. Hyundai Motor Group reinforces the momentum with a $5.8 billion automotive and mobility investment in Ascension Parish, creating one of the year’s most significant manufacturing wins.

Woodside Energy’s $17.5 billion clean energy project in Calcasieu Parish further elevates Louisiana’s profile, while CF Industries, Strategic Biofuels, Hut 8, and Sarcos Technology add depth across energy, technology, and industrial sectors. Louisiana’s Gold Shovel this year is both deserved and unmistakable.

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Mississippi (Under 3 Million Population)

Mississippi’s Gold Shovel performance in 2026 is anchored by a surge of warehousing, advanced manufacturing, and energy infrastructure investment that reflects the state’s growing competitiveness in logistics-driven industries. Amazon leads the way with a $210 million distribution and warehousing operation in Marshall County, bringing 1,000 jobs and reinforcing Mississippi’s position along major freight corridors.

Howard Industries follows with $237 million and 450 jobs in electrical transformer manufacturing across Clark, Jones, and Simpson Counties — a critical infrastructure play given the national push to modernize the power grid. Modime adds 450 jobs in data center cooling equipment manufacturing in Grenada County, bringing $38 million in investment and connecting Mississippi to the booming data center supply chain.

The project list broadens into agriculture, industrial machinery, and clean energy. Amick Farms brings 192 jobs to Laurel, ABB adds 122 positions and $40 million in industrial machinery to Senatobia, and Southeastern Timber Products invests $123 million in Ackerman for lumber production. TerraForge Biocarbon Solutions makes a $136 million metals and clean energy play in Magnolia, and ROCKWOOL contributes $105 million in consumer products to Marshall County. BWC Terminals rounds out the story with $316 million in transportation infrastructure in Pascagoula. Mississippi’s Gold Shovel reflects a state competing smart and winning.

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Silver Shovel Winners: Excellence Across the Map

The Silver Shovel Awards honor states that demonstrated outstanding economic development performance across their population categories — states that may not have captured the single headline number that defines a Platinum or Gold winner, but whose project portfolios reflect the kind of consistent, strategic execution that builds durable economic strength over time.

This year’s Silver class is as varied as any in the award’s history. New York is cementing its role in the domestic semiconductor revival. Florida is diversifying beyond its service-economy roots. Ohio is competing hard for next-generation defense manufacturing. Georgia is proving that automotive scale and tech growth can coexist in the same state. Tennessee is betting on nuclear.

From carbon capture infrastructure in the Gulf South to food and agricultural processing in the Great Plains, from data center campuses anchoring rural communities to precision manufacturing clusters anchoring mid-sized cities, the Silver Shovel states shaped the industrial map of 2026 in ways that will compound for years. Their stories follow.

New York (12+ Million Population)

New York’s Silver Shovel year is anchored by a pair of food and life sciences investments that signal the state’s industrial range extends well beyond the financial corridor. Chobani’s $822 million expansion in Rome — a manufacturing project of the year — creates more than 1,000 jobs and underscores that food innovation is as much a part of New York’s economic identity as Wall Street. Cayuga Milk Ingredients adds $270 million and 150 dairy products jobs in Aurelius, reinforcing the state’s deep agricultural manufacturing base.

Regeneron invests $2 billion in Saratoga Springs with 1,000 jobs, deepening the state’s pharmaceutical manufacturing base. Corning Incorporated’s $371 million optical materials commitment in Canton reinforces the state’s role in advanced telecommunications infrastructure.

BAE Systems brings 134 defense jobs to Endicott, GE Vernova adds 50 positions in Schenectady with a $40 million clean energy investment, and General Motors commits $848 million to automotive operations in Tonawanda. Financial services firm BILT adds 625 jobs in New York City at no capital cost, joined by QueenOne with 600 tech and software positions. Alstom rounds out the list with 258 transportation equipment jobs in Hornell. New York’s breadth across sectors is its signature strength.

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Florida (12+ Million Population)

Florida earns its Silver Shovel with a balanced portfolio that spans aerospace, life sciences, defense, and technology — sectors that reflect the state’s ongoing evolution from a service-driven economy into a more diverse industrial base. ServiceNow leads the non-manufacturing side with a non-manufacturing project of the year designation, bringing 856 tech and software jobs to West Palm Beach with a $59 million investment.

Carnival Cruise Line’s $479 million commitment in Miami brings 525 jobs in maritime operations, Otto Aviation Group is investing $426 million in Jacksonville with 389 jobs, and Williams International commits $1 billion and 336 jobs to aerospace manufacturing in Crestview. Inkas Group adds 294 military and defense vehicle manufacturing positions in Fort Pierce.

Life sciences show momentum. Lupin brings $250 million and 200 biotech jobs to Coral Springs, and Pegasus Laboratories adds 70 life sciences positions in Pensacola. Point Blank Enterprises contributes 300 body armor manufacturing jobs in Crawfordville, and Ben E. Keith Company adds 325 food distribution jobs in Gainesville. Swisher’s $135 million consumer products operation in Jacksonville rounds out a Florida portfolio that punches well above its historical industrial weight.

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Ohio (8 to 12 Million Population)

Ohio’s Silver Shovel this year is headlined by Anduril Industries’ $910 million aerospace investment in Pickaway County — a manufacturing project of the year — bringing more than 4,000 jobs and positioning the state as a major player in next-generation defense manufacturing. It is a landmark project for a state that has long anchored American industrial production and is now competing hard for the advanced manufacturing of the future.

Consumer products and advanced manufacturing provide depth. Kimberly-Clark Corporation commits $800 million and 491 jobs to Warren, while Whirlpool Corporation invests $300 million and 448 jobs across Clyde and Marion. First Quality Tissue adds $984 million and 407 jobs in Defiance. LayerZero brings $14 million and 535 advanced manufacturing positions to Streetsboro.

Healthcare and pharmaceutical investment rounds out the Ohio story. Hims & Hers brings $200 million and 400 jobs in medical and pharmaceutical production to New Albany, while Amgen adds $822 million and 350 healthcare jobs in the same city. Givaudan’s $215 million flavour and fragrance operation in Reading creates 300 jobs, and StandardAero adds 300 aerospace positions in Sharonville. Centrus contributes 300 energy and oil and gas jobs in Piketon at no reported capital cost. Ohio’s consistency across sectors and geographies remains one of the Midwest’s most reliable economic development stories.

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Georgia (8 to 12 Million Population)

Georgia earns its Silver Shovel with a project roster defined by automotive scale, logistics depth, and the kind of sector diversity that reflects a mature economic development program. Hyundai Motor Company’s $2.7 billion commitment in Ellabell — a manufacturing project of the year — creates 3,000 jobs and solidifies Georgia’s position as one of the South’s premier automotive states. It is the kind of anchor investment that transforms not just a community but an entire regional economy.

Amazon reinforces Georgia’s logistics infrastructure with $450 million and 1,000 distribution and warehousing jobs in Hogansville, while JS Link brings $223 million in battery and battery component manufacturing to Columbus with 520 jobs.

Pilgrim’s adds 630 food processing jobs in LaFayette, and Georg Fischer and Hwashin continue to build out the automotive supply chain with investments in Augusta and Dublin respectively.

Technology and life sciences are growing. TrNet brings 750 tech and software jobs to Dunwoody, while BioTouch adds 480 life sciences positions in Columbus. Shriners Children’s commits $153 million and 470 jobs in Atlanta, and Georgia Transformer invests $40 million in renewable energy in Rincon. Socomec contributes 300 electrical component jobs in Suwanee, and Flock Safety rounds out the list with 210 security software positions in Smyrna.

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Tennessee (5 to 8 Million Population)

Tennessee’s Silver Shovel this year features two projects of the year that tell very different but equally compelling stories about where the state’s industrial economy is headed. Oklo’s $1.7 billion nuclear energy investment in Oak Ridge — a manufacturing project of the year — creates 812 jobs and places Tennessee at the forefront of the advanced nuclear renaissance, a sector that is drawing serious capital for the first time in decades. Korea Zinc’s $6.6 billion raw materials and mining commitment in Clarksville and Gordonsville — also a manufacturing project of the year — adds 740 jobs and represents one of the largest single investments in state history.

The rest of the Tennessee portfolio reflects a state with genuine industrial range. Quanta Manufacturing brings 495 tech and software jobs to Nashville, and Vibrant Health Products adds 394 food processing positions in Rossville. ALUKO Group contributes 285 aluminum manufacturing jobs in Halls with a $108 million investment, and Hyosung HICO brings $157 million and 240 energy and renewables positions to Memphis.

Aerospace continues to grow. Howmet Aerospace invests $28 million in Morristown with 217 jobs, and West Star Aviation adds 200 positions in Chattanooga. Nuclear Fuel Services brings 198 jobs and $122 million to Erwin, while Nidec Motor Corporation adds 200 energy and renewables positions in Lexington. Oshkosh Manufacturing rounds out the list with 194 automotive jobs in Jefferson City

What makes Tennessee’s Silver Shovel particularly meaningful is the coherence of the story it tells. Nuclear and mining at the top end, food processing and aluminum in the middle, aerospace and automotive anchoring the base — it’s a portfolio that doesn’t lean on any single sector or single metro to carry the weight. Tennessee has spent years building the workforce pipelines, infrastructure corridors, and incentive structures that make this kind of breadth possible. In 2026, that investment paid off.

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South Carolina (5 to 8 Million Population)

South Carolina’s Silver Shovel performance in 2026 is built on transformer manufacturing, electrification, and a broadening industrial base that is increasingly competitive on the national stage. Eaton leads the roster with $340 million and 700 jobs in transformer manufacturing in Jonesville — reflecting the critical national need for grid infrastructure investment — while Isuzu North America brings $280 million and 700 automotive jobs to Greenville.

Clean energy is a recurring theme. First Solar invests $330 million and 600 jobs in Gaffney in energy and clean tech, and Woodward adds $200 million and 275 positions in the same sector in Greer. TS Conductor brings $134 million and 462 electrical equipment jobs to Hardeeville, and Homanit adds $250 million and 300 automotive positions in Alcolu.

Defense manufacturing appears in Charleston County, where Keel contributes $67 million and 170 jobs, and QMP adds 233 water filtration positions in Walterboro. SODECIA-AAPICO brings 392 automotive jobs to Orangeburg, and Isuzu North America and Georg Fischer round out the automotive supply chain. Komar Industries adds 160 industrial machinery jobs in York County, and Kimberly-Clark contributes 150 consumer products positions in Aiken. South Carolina’s trajectory is clearly upward.

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Alabama (5 to 8 Million Population)

Alabama’s Silver Shovel year is anchored by the defense and aerospace sectors, with a project portfolio that reflects the state’s long-standing strengths while pointing toward new industrial frontiers. U.S. Space Command brings 1,312 defense jobs to Huntsville at no reported capital cost — a federal presence that reinforces the region’s role as a national hub for space and defense operations. Eli Lilly’s $6 billion pharmaceutical investment in Huntsville — a manufacturing project of the year — adds 450 jobs and signals that Alabama’s life sciences ambitions are serious.

Automotive investment continues to flow. CPT America brings $163 million and 187 jobs in automotive manufacturing to Tuskegee, while Samkwang adds 114 positions in the same city. ArcelorMittal Calvert invests $1.2 billion and 205 jobs in raw materials and mining in Calvert, and Alabama River Cellulose — a Georgia Pacific company — commits $800 million to raw materials in Monroeville.

Aerospace and defense round out the story. Northrop Grumman brings $72 million and 200 jobs to Huntsville, while Diageo North America adds $415 million and 100 beverage and food jobs to Montgomery. Owens Corning Corporation invests $325 million and 89 positions in raw materials in Prattville. Pilgrims brings 260 agriculture jobs to Russellville, and Butting contributes 100 stainless steel processing jobs in Loxley. AGS America rounds out the list with 70 automotive positions in Opelika.

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Utah (3 to 5 Million Population)

Utah’s Silver Shovel performance in 2026 is built on medical technology, aerospace, and food processing — a combination that reflects the state’s ability to compete across very different industrial sectors. Stryker leads the roster with $615 million and 862 medical technology jobs in Salt Lake County, one of the larger medtech investments in the region this year. AeroVironment adds 526 aerospace jobs in Salt Lake City, and Bridor brings $277 million and 400 food processing positions to the same market.

Advanced manufacturing anchors the industrial middle of the portfolio. Nucor invests $205 million and 200 steel manufacturing jobs in Brigham City, and Stadler Rail brings $189 million and 250 transportation positions to Salt Lake City. ACS Manufacturing contributes 223 general manufacturing jobs in Clearfield, and UFP Industries adds 100 construction products positions in Grantsville City.

Energy and life sciences round out the picture. OxEon Energy brings $99 million and 103 renewable energy jobs to North Salt Lake, and Ratio Therapeutics adds 100 life sciences positions in West Valley City. Coast Pay contributes 100 financial services jobs in Draper City. Microvascular Therapeutics brings a medical device presence to Salt Lake City, and AirBuild adds 15 renewable energy positions in Green River. Utah’s breadth of investment across sectors and geographies earned it a well-deserved Silver.

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Kentucky (3 to 5 Million Population)

Kentucky’s Silver Shovel year is built on a foundation of consumer products, data infrastructure, and automotive reinvestment — with a few surprises that signal where the state is headed. Jabil leads the list with $150 million and 900 jobs in data center racking systems in Florence, while Haier brings $490 million and 800 consumer products jobs to Louisville.

Automotive investment remains strong. Ford Motor Company commits $1.9 billion to automotive operations in Louisville at no reported job cost — a modernization play that protects existing employment and positions the facility for next-generation vehicle production. Apple invests $2.1 billion in consumer products operations in Harrodsburg, also at no reported job figure, representing a significant vote of confidence in the state’s manufacturing capabilities.

Energy and packaging round out the picture. General Matter brings $1.5 billion and 140 energy and renewables jobs to Paducah, and Sazerac Distillers adds $1 billion and 50 food processing positions in Campbellsville — a reminder that Kentucky’s spirits industry remains a vital part of its economic identity.

EJ Franklin contributes 295 cast metal jobs in Franklin, Morris Packaging adds 276 flexible packaging positions in Lebanon, and Tate Access Floors brings 400 data center component jobs to Glasgow. AKFA Aluminum Solutions US adds 331 aluminum products jobs in Bowling Green, and Foxconn Technology invests $174 million and 180 tech positions in Louisville.

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Idaho (Under 3 Million Population)

Idaho’s Silver Shovel is defined by one extraordinary project and a supporting cast that reflects the state’s emerging industrial identity. Micron Technology’s $35 billion semiconductor investment in Boise — a manufacturing project of the year — creates 3,000 jobs and represents one of the largest capital commitments in American manufacturing history. It transforms Idaho’s economic profile in a single stroke and positions the state as a critical node in domestic chip production for decades to come.

Agriculture and food processing provide the depth that balances Micron’s scale. Tractor Supply Company invests $225 million and 500 jobs in agricultural operations in Nampa, and Chobani brings $500 million and 200 food processing jobs to Twin Falls. Kai-Tech (Nelson Integrated) adds $75 million and 75 food processing positions in Caldwell, and Marathon Cheese contributes 10 food processing jobs in Mountain Home. Industrial manufacturing rounds out the Idaho story.

JTS brings $55 million and 140 industrial equipment and manufacturing jobs to Nampa, while Pipeline Plastics invests $31 million and 39 plastics product positions in Rupert. Timberline Helicopters adds a small but meaningful aerospace presence in Sandpoint. Idaho’s 2026 Shovel is the story of a state landing the project of a generation while steadily building a more diversified industrial base around it.

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Kansas (Under 3 Million Population)

Kansas earns its Silver Shovel with a project portfolio anchored by financial services, life sciences, and the agricultural processing industries that have defined the state’s economy for generations — while adding new threads in business services and energy that point toward a broader industrial future. Fiserv leads the roster as a non-manufacturing project of the year, bringing 2,000 financial services jobs to Overland Park with a $175 million investment.

Life sciences make a significant appearance. Intervet invests $860 million and 203 jobs in De Soto, adding pharmaceutical and biotech depth to a state more typically associated with grain and beef. SparkChange brings 441 business services jobs to Mission, and Advisors Excel adds $74 million and 150 business services positions in Topeka.

Agriculture and consumer products anchor the traditional economy. Real Kansas Meats contributes 131 jobs and $23 million in Fredonia, Spears Caney adds 181 consumer products jobs in Caney, and PTMW brings 140 consumer products positions to Manhattan. National Beef Packing Company makes a major no-reported-job-cost commitment in Dodge City and Liberal, while CVR Refining CVL adds $203 million in energy operations in Coffeyville. Midwest Motor Express adds 199 transportation jobs in Kansas City, and Agiliti rounds out the list with 140 medical device positions in Hays. Kansas is a quiet, consistent winner.

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Methodology
We compile the awards using project data submitted directly by state economic development agencies, and our own data. Submissions are evaluated on the basis of job creation, capital investment, industry diversity, and alignment with each state's broader economic development strategy. Projects are reviewed for credibility and completeness before inclusion. Gold and Silver Shovel Awards are distributed across five population categories — under 3 million, 3 to 5 million, 5 to 8 million, 8 to 12 million, and 12 million and above — to ensure that states of different sizes are evaluated against comparable peers. The Platinum Shovel is awarded to the single standout performer across all categories. Manufacturing, Non-Manufacturing, and Data Center Projects of the Year are selected based on overall impact within their respective categories.
Projects of the Year