A strong economic development corporation can mean all the difference to a state. Just ask the business owners in Indiana.
Area Development magazine recently 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.
