Kentucky has earned the Area Development Silver Shovel Award for the second consecutive year, recognizing the commonwealth's success in attracting major economic development projects and job creation. The award comes as the state continues a historic economic growth trajectory under Gov. Andy Beshear's administration.

Area Development, a leading publication on site selection and facility planning, evaluates states annually based on job creation, capital investment, industry diversity, and overall economic strategy. Kentucky's 2025 recognition reflects major battery manufacturing investments including Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing LLC's $711 million project and logistics growth with Kuehne + Nagel adding more than 350 jobs, alongside expansion in food and spirits production.

The commonwealth has established itself as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States, driven by transformative projects including Ford Motor Co. and SK On's BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County, AESC's gigafactory in Warren County, and Toyota's investment in Scott County. Since Beshear took office, his administration has announced more than 1,300 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $45 billion in announced investments and creating more than 68,000 jobs.

The recognition builds on Kentucky's broader national profile in economic development. The commonwealth has held a top-five ranking in Site Selection magazine's Governor's Cup rankings during all six years of the Beshear administration, and earlier this year Kentucky placed 8th in Site Selection magazine's 2025 Global Groundwork Index for the fourth consecutive year.

Economic gains have translated to workforce improvements, with Kentucky recording over 2 million jobs filled in 2023 for the first time in state history and maintaining that level since. The state's budgetary position has also strengthened, with Beshear's administration securing the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund in state history.