Georgia Recognized With Gold Shovel Award
Thursday, June 25th, 2015
Area Development Magazine, a leading executive magazine covering corporate site selection and relocation, recently announced the winners of the Gold Shovel Awards. This award recognizes individual states for overall economic development effectiveness.
We’re excited to share that Georgia was recognized with a Gold Shovel Award this year.
How Did Georgia Win?
By calculating the number of new jobs created in relation to the state’s population, the combined dollar amount of investments, the number of new facilities, and the diversity of industry represented, Area Development awards the winners.
Georgia was able to create a significant number of new jobs and positively impact the local economy. The following top investment projects led to Georgia’s gold shovel award:
“The states and their communities receiving 2015 Shovel Awards have proven that they understand the makings of successful economic development strategies,” says Geraldine Gambale, editor of Area Development. “They deserve special recognition for their efforts to grow their economies and provide well-paying jobs in a time of intense competition for new investment.”
Most key industries in Georgia have seen substantial spikes in performance, including data centers, entertainment, information technology and manufacturing, among others.
With significant increases in every industry sector, Georgia is quickly becoming one of the most popular and prosperous places to do business.
Did you know that:
- 374 companies expanded or located in Georgia, investing $5 billion and creating more than 28,400 jobs
- Trade consisted of $37.6 billion in international exports
- Tourism generated 53.6 billion in business sales
- Film reeled off $5.1 billion in economic impact
And musicians and artists across Georgia topped the billboard charts and touched the lives of people across the world.
It’s an exciting time to be in Georgia. Learn more about Georgia’s leading industry sectors and start the conversation here.
