‘The nation is taking notice’: Mississippi wins trio of national economic development awards

Mississippi’s economic development surge is starting to capture national attention.

The state has been honored with a Gold Shovel Award by Area Development, recognizing Mississippi’s total economic development throughout 2024, along with project of the year awards for the $10 billion Amazon Web Services development in Madison County and the $1.9 billion Marshall County battery plant.

“Mississippi is making history, and the nation is taking notice. These awards are another testament to the special things happening across our state, like record-breaking private sector investment and the creation of thousands of high-paying jobs,” Governor Tate Reeves said.

“From technology to manufacturing to aerospace, companies are choosing Mississippi because they know we deliver results. We’re building a stronger economy and proving that Mississippi’s momentum is real.”

Area Development’s Shovel Awards are given to “states that stand out for their ability to attract high-impact economic development projects.” The top projects are based on job creation, capital investment, diversity of industry, and each state’s overall economic strategy, the publication said. Mississippi’s Gold Shovel Award came in the “under 3 million population” category.

“Under Governor Reeves’ leadership, Mississippi has become an economic development force to be reckoned with,” MDA Executive Director Bill Cork said. “Private-sector investment has skyrocketed to record levels, and Mississippi has raced to the front of the pack in technological innovation, paving the way for the dawn of the ‘Digital Delta.’ On top of that, Mississippi’s Power Play initiative is about to make this state a leader in American energy. This all means more jobs, more economic wins, and more national recognition.”

According to a press release from Reeves’ office, development and job creation projects that contributed to the award wins include: