Good news for Alabama… a silver shovel for our effort

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.

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.