Jimmy DeButts at the Birmingham Business Journal just announced that the State of Alabama is one of 11 states to earn a “Silver Shovel” award for its economic development capabilities.
The award was given after [Area Development] magazine reviewed data from each state’s top 10 job creation and investment projects in 2008. Only those projects that “broke ground,” began an expansion or started hiring were considered.
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Our neighbor to the north, Tennessee, got the “Gold Shovel” award. According to the magazine, “Silver Shovel Awards go the ‘runner-up’ states, which were ranked according to three population categories (greater than 10 million, 5–10 million, and less than 5 million).“ Alabama is in the under 5 million category. Georgia also received a Silver Shovel, but in the 5-10 million category.
