Gov. Steve Beshear recently announced Area Development magazine, a leading economic development trade publication, has recognized Kentucky with a Silver Shovel Award, recognizing the Commonwealth as one of the most successful states in creating jobs and securing investments in 2014.

In the summer 2015 issue, Area Development magazine awarded Silver Shovels in four population categories, with Kentucky’s honor coming in the 3-to-5 million population tier. The awards are based on a state’s top 10 job-creation and investment projects that began to materialize in the previous year. Kentucky’s top projects resulted in nearly 4,000 new and retained jobs and more than $1 billion in investments.

The Silver Shovel is the latest good news for Kentucky economy. Last year, companies announced the most business investment in the Commonwealth since the state began tracking that information nearly 30 years ago. In March, the Commonwealth earned Site Selection magazine’s Governor’s Cup award for the most economic development projects per capita in 2014. Read More