July 1 :
The 11th Annual Gold Shovel Award from Area Development magazine was bestowed upon Texas, as announced by Governor Greg Abbott. The fact that the state has been able to attract high-value economic development projects—which have created a large number of new jobs—and rank first among the states with the largest populations is demonstrated by this award.

The states that have been most successful in luring high-value investment projects that create large numbers of jobs are honored each year at Area Development's Shovel Awards. The rankings are determined by a variety of metrics, including the diversity of industries represented, the total dollar amount of firm investments, the number of new facilities, and the number of new jobs produced relative to the state's population.

Governor Abbott boasted that Texas "again brings home the gold" when it came to luring high-value company investments that generate good-paying employment for industrious Texans across the state. Area Development magazine has once again honored Texas with the prestigious Gold Shovel Award, and I would like to extend my congratulations to all of our economic development partners—at the municipal, regional, and state levels—on this well-deserved recognition.

We identify the states with the most growth every year by going through the records of project announcements. The Area Development news release mentioned that the Gold and Silver Shovel Awards are given to individuals who demonstrate extremely great involvement. With a total investment of $21 billion, Texas tops the list of the largest states (defined as those with 12 million or more citizens).

This follows the announcement of substantial investments by prominent Indian corporations like JSW Steel USA and Aditya Birla Group. An R&D and manufacturing facility in Texas is set to receive a $50 million investment from the Aditya Birla Group, who aim to increase their regional footprint and foster innovation. The Baytown steel plate facility, which Ambassador Eric Garcetti praised for its economic and industrial accomplishments, will be modernized by JSW Steel USA, which will invest $110 million.

Texas also received special recognition from Area Development for the $21 billion in company relocation and expansion projects that the Lone Star State secured. Among the major investments is the cloud-computing manufacturing plant ZT Systems in Georgetown, which is expected to generate up to 1,500 jobs and was selected as Project of the Year. Local, regional, and statewide cooperation were the driving forces behind Texas' economic successes, which Governor Abbott highlighted. He is hopeful that the state will continue to expand and prosper.

Major Economic Investments Earn Texas Prestigious Award