North Carolina Earns Gold Shovel Award for Job-Creating Projects

Economic Development Efforts Help Bring 8,862 New Positions to the State 

It may not be as fashionable and hip a publication as Vogue or Vanity Fair, but when it comes to reporting on the intersection of site selection, facility planning and workforce development, Area Development Magazine leads the pack. 

Every year, the publication presents Gold & Silver Shovel Awards to “recognize states’ efforts to attract high-value investment and large job-creating projects.”

This year, North Carolina earned a 2018 Gold Shovel (in the 8-12 million category).

The news is great for the state and even better for Currituck County. It means continued forward momentum for the state economy, which is on track to grow by as much as 3 percent this year.

“We’re honored by this latest recognition of our state’s continued success in attracting new business,” North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland said in a release. “And the fact this Gold Shovel is a first for the state, which has received eight Silver Shovels, is further proof we’re building on North Carolina’s already strong momentum.”

Industry recognition, development awards, best-of lists and top ten lists are always a great way to promote the pro-business benefits of North Carolina. 

Leading economists and NC business leaders predicted good things for the state earlier this year at the 16th Annual Economic Forecast Forum.

North Carolina Chamber President Lew Ebert said, “North Carolina is on a roll. We’ve seen job growth top 70,000 for each of the last four years. North Carolina hasn’t seen that kind of growth in decades.”

Speaking of jobs, Area Development Magazine mentioned several 4-digit job announcements in their coverage of the North Carolina award including:

•  2,250 jobs from Allstate’s expanded operations center in Charlotte

•  1,200 jobs when Credit Suisse expands its financial services operations in the Research Triangle Park area

•  2,000 jobs for the Infosys tech hub near Raleigh

North Carolina also earned marks for its manufacturing scene. Contributing to the state’s Golden Shovel win was 800 manufacturing jobs coming from Triangle Tyre Co., Pilgrim’s Pride expansion in Lee County, and several pieces of positive job news in pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical packaging, and wood and paper products.

According to Area Development, their methodology involved “collecting information from all 50 states about their top-10 job-creation and investment projects initiated in 2017 (only those projects that actually had monies invested, ‘broke ground,’ began an expansion, started new hiring, etc. were considered).” 

North Carolina’s Top Projects for 2017

(Population: 10.27 million)

from www.areadevelopment.com