Texas has snagged its 11th Gold Shovel Award, as announced by Governor Greg Abbott, recognizing the state's ongoing efforts in drawing in business investments that are set to create a substantial number of jobs. According to an announcement from the Governor's office, Texas continues to carve out a dominant presence in economic development among the most populous states—a streak that has remained unbroken over the award program's 19-year history.
"Texas again brings home the gold when it comes to attracting high-value business investments that create good-paying jobs for hardworking Texans across our great state," Governor Abbott stated, expressing pride over Texas being recognized again with a Gold Shovel Award by Area Development magazine. In the ongoing collaboration with local and regional economic development partners, the state aims to forge an even more prosperous Texas. The latest award reflects $21 billion worth of investment in the state, including business expansions and new project locations that promise to bolster the economy.
Area Development magazine, which bestows the annual accolades, highlighted several significant investment projects in Texas. Notably, ZT Systems in Georgetown is constructing a cloud-computing manufacturing facility expected to generate up to 1,500 new jobs, earning it a 'Project of the Year' designation. Also on the list of impactful ventures is Toppan Photomasks Inc.'s $185 million investment in semiconductor manufacturing in Round Rock, Google's $600 million data center in the Dallas area, Tesla's $375 million lithium refinery in Robstown, and Graphic Packaging International's billion-dollar investment in their Waco facility.
The criteria behind the coveted Shovel Awards include a mix of factors such as the number of new jobs relative to the state's population, the monetary value of business investments, the introduction of new facilities, and the diversity of industries participating, detailed by Area Development. These symbols of economic acknowledgment serve to highlight states like Texas that are successful in attracting companies poised to contribute to community employment growth and economic vitality, according to the award-giving body.
