SC Department of Commerce
www.sccommerce.com
By: Amy Love

Area Development magazine awards South Carolina the 2013 Silver Shovel

South Carolina receives national recognition for economic development efforts

COLUMBIA, S.C. – May 30, 2013 – Area Development magazine, a national, leading economic development publication, has awarded South Carolina with its 2013 Silver Shovel award for the state’s economic development efforts last year.

“South Carolina continues to strengthen its reputation for being the ‘it’ state for business. It’s exciting to see our state again receive the Silver Shovel award for our strong economic development efforts. We understand what businesses need in order to do well, and that has played a key role in landing the large deals we’ve seen over the past few years,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.

Area Development magazine recognizes states in four population categories that have recruited the highest quality and most jobs per capita, which have broken ground in the previous year. This year marks the eighth year of the awards. South Carolina was the Silver Shovel winner this year in the 3 – 5 million population category.

“The Silver Shovel is a great recognition of our economic development accomplishments. We work every day with our local and regional partners in bringing investment to the Palmetto State, and this award is another sign that Team South Carolina is doing things right,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.

This year marks the fifth Shovel Award South Carolina has collected from Area Development. In 2011 and 2012, South Carolina was awarded a Gold Shovel for its economic development efforts, and had previously been awarded a silver shovel in both 2009 and 2010.

For more information on the award application process and to see a full listing of all the awards, please visit http://www.areadevelopment.com/awards.