National publication Area Development has chosen Alabama for a Silver Shovel Award, after a record-setting $10.1 billion in capital projects last year.

The state’s previous record of $8.1 billion was set in 2018.

The magazine’s shovel awards recognize states for attracting high-value investment projects that will create a significant amount of new jobs.

The 2022 projects are expected to create more than 13,000 jobs across Alabama in both rural and urban areas.

It’s not the first time the magazine has honored Alabama. The state received Gold Shovel Awards in 2006, 2013, 2019 and 2021, and Silver Shovel Awards for 2007–2012, 2014–2018, and last year.

Gov. Kay Ivey called the award “yet another testament to Alabama’s strong pro-business environment and to the talented workers that help companies from around the world grow and thrive.”

Area Development also recognized the state’s Novelis project in Bay Minette as its “Manufacturing Project of the Year.”

Novelis, a leading sustainable aluminum solutions provider, announced last year an investment of $2.5 billion into the new low-carbon recycling and rolling plant, expected to create about 1,000 jobs.

Two other large scale projects were Hyundai’s $300 million electric vehicle production launch in Montgomery, and Hyundai Mobis’ $205 million battery module plant.