State Receives Top Economic Development Honor
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has won Area Development magazine's 2011 Gold Shovel award. Indiana is one of only three states to receive the publication's top honor for economic developmentWESTBURY, N.Y. - Area Development magazine awarded the Indiana Economic Development Corporation with a 2011 Gold Shovel award, the publication's top honor for economic development efforts.
Indiana was one of only three states to receive the award, which is based on 2010 performance in categories including total job creation, job creation per-capita, new capital investment and number of new facilities.
"People are taking notice that 2010 was a record-setting year for economic development activity in Indiana," said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. "Receiving the Gold Shovel is a great honor, but it's also a challenge to continue doing all we can to make Indiana the most business friendly destination for growing companies."
The 2011 award is the first Gold Shovel recognition that Indiana has received in the six year history of the award. The state received Area Development's Silver Shovel recognition, its next highest honor, in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The Silver Shovel is awarded using the same criteria to three states in each of three population categories: under 4 million; 4 to 9 million; and over 9 million.
"In the wake of the Great Recession, economic development agencies are working harder than ever to not only achieve economic recovery, but also to attract new businesses and grow their existing businesses," said Geraldine Gambale, editor of Area Development.
The accolade is Indiana's second in as many months. In March, Site Selection magazine ranked Indiana ninth among all states for the number of new economic development projects in 2010. The ranking was up one spot from 10th place the year before.
Area Development is a bi-monthly publication focusing on business site selection and relocation issues. Published since 1965, the New York -based magazine has more than 45,000 subscribers. The full-results of the 2011 Gold and Silver Shovel Awards will be available in the magazine's Spring 2011 Executive Summary issue and online at www.areadevelopment.com/awards.
About IEDC
Created
by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of
Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a
12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Mitch Roob serves as the
chief executive officer of the IEDC. For more information about IEDC,
visit www.iedc.in.gov.