JACKSON, Miss. — Area Development magazine awarded Mississippi a 2025 Gold Shovel Award for the state’s economic development accomplishments, the Mississippi Development Authority said.
The magazine also named a $210 million Amazon project in Marshall County as one of its Non-Manufacturing Projects of the Year, Area Development said.
Gov. Tate Reeves said the recognition shows “the Mississippi Momentum is going strong” and that the award “represents billions of dollars in new private capital investment and thousands of new high-paying jobs,” according to a statement from his office.
Bill Cork, executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority, said the award reflects the state’s results in attracting investment and jobs. Cork said companies continue to choose Mississippi because projects can move there, according to the agency.
Area Development said submissions were evaluated on job creation, capital investment, industry diversity and alignment with each state’s broader economic development strategy. The Mississippi Development Authority said the state won in the category for populations under 3 million. Area Development, which covers site selection and facility planning, posted its full list of 2025 Shovel Award winners on its website, the magazine said.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
