JACKSON, Miss. – The state of Mississippi has once again been honored with a Silver Shovel Award by Area Development magazine. This prestigious recognition celebrates Mississippi’s exceptional achievements in economic development throughout 2022, highlighting the state’s unwavering commitment to job creation and attracting new capital investment. Additionally, Area Development named the $2.5 billion Steel Dynamics project as one of its Manufacturing Projects of the Year.
“Mississippi set records in economic development last year,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “We secured a record $6 billion in new capital investment and finalized the largest economic development project in our state’s history. We’re doing what it takes to bring in billions worth of new investment and thousands of high-paying jobs to our state. Mississippi has momentum and this national recognition is further proof of that.”
The Shovel Awards recognize state economic development agencies that generate a significant number of jobs through innovative policies, infrastructure improvements, processes and promotions that attract new employers and investments in new and expanded facilities. Based on the number of value-added jobs per capita, amount of investment, number of new facilities and industry diversity of the projects submitted by MDA, Mississippi won a Silver Shovel in the “2 to 4 million population” category. All 50 states were invited to submit their top job creation and investment projects.
Mississippi’s top job creation and/or investment projects contributing to winning a Silver Shovel Award include:
- Steel Dynamics: $2.5 billion investment, 1000 new jobs
- Nissan: $500 million investment, upskilling of 2000 jobs
- Enviva: $250 million investment, and 100 new jobs
- CLAW Forestry: $200 million investment, 131 new jobs
- Albany Industries: $182.5 million investment, 85 jobs
- Altex Tube: $110 million investment, 58 new jobs
- Walmart: $90 million investment, 250 new jobs
- Menasha Packaging: $79 million, 21 new jobs
- Terberg Taylor Americas Group: $16 million investment, 90 new jobs
- Baxter: $11.6 million investment, 105 new jobs
- Standvast Fulfillment: $4.4 million, 360 jobs
- Homestead Furniture: $2 million investment, 117 new jobs
“The hard work of Mississippi’s economic development professionals has earned us the esteemed Silver Shovel Award, a true a testament to our state’s remarkable achievements in generating new jobs and attracting investments,” said Mississippi Development Authority Deputy Executive Director Laura Hipp. “With projects like Steel Dynamics’ expansion in Columbus, Nissan’s retooling in Canton and Rocket Lab’s investment on the Gulf Coast, we are showing the world Mississippi is a great place for businesses to plant roots and find long-term success.”
Area Development is a leading economic development publication covering site selection and facility planning. To view a complete list of the 2022 Shovel Award winners, visit https://www.areadevelopment.com/Gold-Shovel-Econdev-Awards/q2-2023/EV-battery-semiconductor-projects-dominate.shtml
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