Arizona Wins Fourth Consecutive Gold Shovel Award Recognizing Significant Economic Development Efforts
June 20, 2024
Arizona today was awarded a prestigious “Gold Shovel” award from Area Development magazine in the 5-8 million population category, marking the state’s fourth consecutive gold shovel. The Shovel Awards recognize states that “garnered large job-creating and investment projects through innovative policies, infrastructure improvements, and other processes that attracted new employers as well as investments in expanded facilities.”
In addition, Area Development named LG Energy Solution’s investment in Queen Creek one of 15 “Manufacturing Projects of the Year” and one of 10 “Cleantech Projects of the Year.” In April 2023, LG Energy Solution announced plans to build a $5.5 billion battery manufacturing complex in Queen Creek, which is expected to create thousands of new jobs. Area Development also awarded Amkor, a leading provider of semiconductor packaging and test services, one of 10 “Non-Manufacturing Projects Of The Year.” Amkor is building a $2 billion semiconductor packaging and testing facility in Peoria, creating 2,000 new jobs. Once complete, Amkor’s Peoria facility will be the largest outsourced advanced packaging facility in the U.S.