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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Annual Econdev Awards

Editor’s Note: Making Sense of the Shifts

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q2 2025)

If you’re reading this magazine, you’re likely grappling with questions that don’t have easy answers: Where will the next constraint show up? What will this election cycle do to capital flows? How do you build resilience without losing speed? More
20th-annual-area-development-gold-and-silver-shovel-awards

20th Annual Area Development Gold and Silver Shovel Awards

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q2 2025)

Two decades of dealmaking, diversification, and economic momentum — this year’s Shovel Awards celebrate the states digging deepest to build the future. More

The Newest Shovel Award—It's Green!

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2024)

Louisiana leads with green, earning the first-ever Green Shovel for its commitment to renewable energy. The state's significant cleantech investments highlight a national shift toward sustainable development. More

19th Annual Area Development Gold and Silver Shovel Awards

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2024)

Economic growth shines at the Area Development Shovel Awards, with states like South Carolina and Louisiana leading the charge. Discover which regions are driving innovation and sustainability in industries from automotive to green technology. More

Editor’s Note: Production of EVs and Chips Comes to Forefront

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q2 2023)

Despite economic uncertainty, industry investment in both the EV/battery and semiconductor industries continues to grow. More

Charging Up the Electric Vehicle and Battery Sector

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2023)

More than half a dozen of this year’s Project of the Year awards are related to EVs or the batteries that will power them. More

Boosting Semiconductor Manufacturing in America

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2023)

Often referred to as “fabs,” the plants producing semiconductors are all big-money investments promising big job counts. More

EV and Semiconductor Projects Stand Out in States Receiving Area Development’s 18th Annual Shovel Awards

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2023)

With concerns about climate change now supplanting pandemic fears, projects to produce EVs — and the semiconductors used by vehicles and other high-tech goods — come to the forefront in this year’s Shovel Awards report. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Chipmaker Intel Adding Semiconductor Facilities in Arizona

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

Intel’s two new Arizona fabs that represent a $20 billion investment will make an impact on the semiconductor shortage resulting from pandemic-induced supply chain snarls. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Blue Star Manufacturing Ramps Up PPE Production in Virginia

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

The establishment of a facility for the production of medical-grade gloves in Virginia is an important step in alleviating supply chain issues with Asian-made products. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Samsung Makes Its Largest U.S. Investment in Texas

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

Working to expand semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S., Samsung is adding to its presence in Texas with a $17 billion investment. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Regeneron Expanding Research, Manufacturing in New York

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

The company’s response to COVID-19 is widely known, and it is building out its R&D and manufacturing in Tarrytown, N.Y. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Oracle America, Inc. Establishing Second U.S. Headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

The Oracle project along the Cumberland River includes spending on public infrastructure improvements. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Supply Chain Needs to Be Met by U.S. Steel’s New Arkansas Mill

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

U. S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt said in a statement that the company is “reshaping the future of steel making” with this mill. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Ford Motor Co. To Turn Out EV Trucks and Batteries in Tennessee

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

The Blue Oval City development is said to be Tennessee’s biggest investment ever. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: The J.M. Smucker Company Investing in Alabama

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

Smucker’s investment in Jefferson County, Alabama, for a new frozen sandwich plant promises large-scale job creation. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Toyota Motor North America, Inc. to Produce EV Batteries in North Carolina

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

Initially expected to produce batteries for 200,000 EVs annually, future expansions will ramp that up enough to power 1.2 million EVs annually. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Apple to Open East Coast Campus in North Carolina and Invest in Local Schools

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

The North Carolina project is part of Apple’s plan to boost its overall U.S. investment by $430 billion and the creation of 20,000 jobs in several states. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Ford/SK Innovation To Make Batteries for EVs in Kentucky

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

According to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, this is the single largest investment in the history of the state. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: CoStar Group Expanding in Richmond, Virginia

(Q2 2022)

When the firm’s project is completed, it will occupy more than one million square feet along the James River. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: FinTech Leader Fiserv Adding Jobs in New Jersey

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

Fiserv will attract top talent to its N.J. hub by partnering with local universities, including Rutgers University – Newark. More

2022 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: EV Startup Canoo Inc. Plans Oklahoma “Mega Microfactory”

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

Mid-America Industrial Park will be the site of Canoo’s new auto manufacturing facility. More

Area Development’s 17th Annual Shovel Awards Recognize State and Local Economic Development Efforts — First Two Platinum Shovels Awarded

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2022)

Area Development’s annual Shovel Awards highlight the nation’s swift post-pandemic economic recovery in 2021 with many projects being initiated that represent billions of dollars in investment and thousands of new jobs. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Recognize State and Local Economic Development Efforts

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

Although 2020’s global pandemic resulted in some projects being stalled or canceled, the annual Shovel Awards recognize many other new and expanded facilities plans that are on track and expected to created thousands of jobs and billions in investment. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Tesla Picks Texas for Its Latest Gigafactory

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

Tesla’s assembly operation is going up on a 2,100-acre site near Del Valle, where a partnership with the local school district to train high school students helped seal the deal. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Microsoft Chooses Atlanta For New AI/Cloud Computing Facility

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

The promise of a robust talent pool from area universities, as well as proximity to other tech giants, helped solidify Microsoft’s decision to locate a new facility in Atlanta. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Centene Chooses Charlotte for Regional HQ/Technology Hub

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

Expected to create 3,200 jobs, the Centene project is the largest single job announcement in the history of North Carolina’s incentives program. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Ultium Cells to Mass-Produce Lithium Ion Batteries in Ohio

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

A joint venture between General Motors and LG Chem, Ultium Cells’ plant will help fulfill GM’s promise of an all-electric lineup by 2035. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Microsoft to Develop Software in Northern Virginia

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

The site plan for Microsoft’s Reston Town Center development also includes retail space for engaging directly with customer, an important part of the project, according to company officials. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Taiwan Semiconductor’s New Phoenix Plant Will Help Alleviate U.S. Chip Shortage

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

The semiconductor company’s new $12 billion plant in Phoenix, Ariz., will produce 20,000 wafers monthly and is expected to create 1,600 jobs. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Accenture Federal Services’ St. Louis Facility to Offer AI, Cyber Solutions

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

Some 1,400 employees at the technology and consulting company will serve federal agencies from this new facility. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Northrop Grumman Growing Jobs, Investment in Utah

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

Through a $380 million investment to expand its Weber County operations, Northrop Grumman will create jobs around Hill Air Force Base for generations to come. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Netflix to Create 1,000 Jobs in New Mexico

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

Netflix’s new Albuquerque studio will place it in proximity to Los Angeles, yet in a separate market with its own talent base. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Grön Fuels Complex Can Actually Reverse Climate Change

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

Louisiana’s Grön Fuels facility plans to capture and sequester tens of millions of tons of biogenic carbon dioxide. More

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: CREE Wolfspeed’s Wafers Key to Charging of EVs

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2021)

The silicon carbide wafers to be produced at the Mohawk Valley, N.Y., plant will reduce the charging time and range of EVs and also be used in 5G infrastructure and solar inverters. More

2020 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Recognize State and Local Economic Development Efforts

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2020)

While the current COVID-19 crisis may put some development on “pause,” our annual Shovel Awards recognize states that garnered large job-creating and investment projects over the course of the previous year. More

2019 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Recipients Garnered Large Job-Creating and Investment Projects in Diverse Industries

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2019)

While e-commerce was creating thousands of jobs across the nation last year, high-profile, diverse projects in the manufacturing, information technology, financial services, energy, and other sectors were also making news. More

2019 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Nikola Motor Corp. to Build Hydrogen-Electric Trucks in Arizona

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2019)

The $1 billion Nikola assembly plant is helping to build Arizona’s future in the creation of new-technology vehicles. More

2019 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Project of the Year: Micron Technology Expanding Chip-Making in Virginia

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2019)

In response to increased demand for its computer chips, which are used in today’s advanced-tech vehicles, Micron is expanding in Manassas at a cost of $3 billion. More

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

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2019)

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

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