On Friday, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that Alabama was selected for a Silver Shovel Award from Area Development, a national business publication. The award recognizes the state’s economic development successes in 2021. Indiana and South Carolina also received a Silver Shovel Award in the category for states with populations between 5 million and 8 million.
Area Development’s annual Gold and Silver Shovel Awards evaluate the overall effectiveness of economic development efforts in states across the nation.
In 2021, companies have announced new facilities and expansion projects involving $7.7 billion in new capital investment. It stands as the second-highest annual investment total for the state, trailing only the $8.1 billion recorded in 2018. These 2021 projects will create over 10,000 jobs across Alabama.
Ivey emphasized that companies are choosing Alabama for their businesses because the state is pro-business.
Ivey stated, “High-performing companies from around the globe have discovered first-hand that they can find all the advantages they need to succeed right here in Sweet Home Alabama. The Silver Shovel Award is a testament to the state’s pro-business environment and to the skilled workforce that makes that success possible.”
In its new report, Area Development singled out The J.M. Smucker Co.’s project to build a manufacturing and distribution facility in Jefferson County as one of its “Deals of the Year.”
“The combination of peanut butter and jelly is comfort food for many people, and frozen PB&J sandwiches will be comforting a lot of Alabama lives when a $1.1 billion Smucker’s plant opens in Jefferson County,” the magazine wrote. “The deal promises some 750 jobs that will pay an average of $25 an hour, making the company’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches.”
“The overarching goal of Alabama’s economic development team is to spark the creation of good jobs and enhance opportunity throughout the state by strategically focusing on high-impact industries with solid growth prospects,” stated Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “This honor is another concrete example showing that our team is executing on its plan and delivering results that make a difference for the state.”
Other top 2021 Alabama projects listed by the magazine included Hanwha Cimarron’s plans for a manufacturing plant in Opelika, Amazon’s plans for fulfillment centers in Huntsville and Montgomery, as well as Alabama Graphite LLC’s investment in a graphite processing facility in rural Coosa County.
Alabama claimed a Gold Shovel in 2020 for success in economic development projects that advanced the manufacturing sector.
