June 11, 2021

Texas wins Gold Shovel Award in 2021 for 9th year

Tesla gigafactory recognized as manufacturing project of the year

Texas wins its 9th Gold Shovel Award in 2021, continuing its record of success and economic growth with attracting economic development projects to the Lone Star State, Area Development announced in June.

Area Development recognized Tesla, which broke ground in Del Valle, Texas, in 2020, as the Manufacturing Project of the Year. Tesla promises to create more than 5,000 automotive jobs with a $1.1 billion investment for the construction of its largest gigafactory on a 2,100-acre site southeast of Austin.

The annual Gold and Silver Shovel awards recognize states for their achievement in attracting high-value investment projects that will contribute a significant number of jobs.

Ecommerce and technology giant Amazon contributed three different Texas projects in 2020 — with 1,000 jobs each for Waco and the Austin suburb of Pflugerville, and 1,500 for the Oak Cliff community in Dallas.

The awards are based on a number of factors, including the number of new jobs to be created in relation to a state’s population, the combined value of the investments, the number of new facilities, and the diversity of industry represented. The 2021 awards recognize states with the top 10 job creation and investment projects initiated in 2020.

Texas won the top spot in the 12+ million population category in 2021. The other Gold Shovel winners in their population categories are North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, Indiana, Utah, Alabama and Kansas.

Texas has won a Shovel Award for each of the 16 years since it began. This in Texas’ ninth Gold Shovel Award.

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