Awards & Recognition
How did one state become an award-winning hotspot for economic growth?
Here in Alabama, we boast a long list of advantages—a pro-business environment, a robust infrastructure, and competitive business incentives, just to name a few.
But our greatest advantage has always been our people. Alabama’s highly skilled workforce is bolstering some of the biggest companies in the world: Amazon, Google, Facebook, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, Hyundai, Honda, Airbus, and Boeing, among many others.
And while we’re courting the next corporate giants for future partnerships, Alabama workers are receiving top-notch training from cooperative, on-site programs developed by the primary state workforce agency AIDT, as well as from other initiatives that are preparing a pipeline of skilled and highly motivated workers who can thrive in the workplace of today — and tomorrow.
2025
Site Selection — Site Selectors Survey
No. 7 Overall Ranking
2024
Area Development
Silver Shovel Award — 2024
Area Development
“Best States for Doing Business” survey — 2024
No. 8 Overall Ranking
No. 1 — Favorable Property Tax Environment
No. 3 — Workforce Training Program (AIDT)
No. 3 — Overall Cost of Doing Business
No. 3 — Favorable Regulatory Environment
No. 5 — Business Incentives Programs
No. 6 — Energy Availability and Cost
No. 6 — Site Readiness Programs
No. 10 — Access to Qualified Labor
Area Development
No. 1 Most Improved State for Business
Site Selection — Governor’s Cups
No. 3 Overall Ranking in South Central region for per-capita project activity
Cullman: No. 2 in Top 100 Micropolitan rankings
Sylacauga/Talladega: No. 17 in Top 100 Micropolitan rankings
Selma: No. 40 in Top 100 Micropolitan rankings
Auburn-Opelika metro: No. 3 for total projects as a Tier 3 Metro
Birmingham-Hoover metro: No. 9 in South Central Region’s Top Project Rankings
Site Selection — Executive Survey
No. 9 Overall Ranking
Business Facilities — Annual Ranking Report
No. 3 — Customized Workforce Training
No. 5 — Manufacturing Jobs
No. 7 — Automotive Leaders
No. 8 — Aerospace/Defense Leaders
Business Facilities
“Deal of the Year” Defense Category — Austal, Mobile
Trade & Industry Development
“Community Impact” Award — Samkee Corp., Tuskegee
CBRE — Huntsville No. 1 ranking for Tech Talent Growth
2023
Area Development
Silver Shovel Award — 2023
Area Development
“Best States for Doing Business” Survey — 2023
No. 6 Overall Ranking
No. 1 — Favorable regulatory environment
No. 1 — Speed of Permitting
No. 2 — Overall cost of doing business
No. 5 — Workforce training program (AIDT)
No. 7 — Business incentive programs
No. 10 — Competitive Labor Environment
No. 10 — Site-Readiness Programs
Area Development
“Manufacturing Project of the Year” — Novelis, Baldwin County — 2023
Trade & Industry Development
“Community Impact” Award — First Solar, Lawrence County — 2023
Trade & Industry Development
“Corporate Investment” Award — Novelis, Baldwin County — 2023
2022
Area Development
Silver Shovel Award — 2022
Area Development
“Deal of the Year” Award — J.M. Smucker Co. project — 2022
Area Development
“Top States for Business” Survey — 2022
No. 6 Overall Ranking
No. 4 Ranking —Workforce Development
Business Facilities
“Deal of the Year” Award (Startup Category) — Landing project — 2022
2021
Area Development
Gold Shovel Award (Manufacturing) — 2021
Area Development
“Top States for Business” Survey — 2021
No. 6 Overall Ranking
No. 3 Ranking — Incentives Programs
No. 4 Ranking — Workforce Development
Site Selection
Governor’s Cup Analysis — 2021
No. 9 Ranking — Per Capita Project Activity
Business Facilities
“State Rankings Report” — 2021
No. 3 Ranking — Customized Training
No. 5 Ranking — Best Business Climate
Trade & Industry Development
“Community Impact” Award — Lockheed Martin project — 2021
2020
Area Development
“Top States for Business” — 2020
No. 6 Overall Ranking
No. 3 Ranking — Workforce Development
No. 4 Ranking — Incentives Programs
Site Selection
“Best Business Climate” Survey — 2020
No. 7 Overall Ranking
Site Selection
Governor’s Cup Analysis — 2020
No. 6 Ranking — Per Capita Project Activity
No. 9 Ranking — Project Activity
Business Facilities
“State Rankings Report” — 2020
No. 4 Ranking — Business Climate
No. 2 Ranking — Customized Training
2019
Area Development
Gold Shovel Award — 2019
Southern Business & Development
“State of the Year” — 2019
Southern Business & Development
“Deals of the Year” — 2019
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA auto assembly plant (Huntsville)
Amazon fulfillment center (Bessemer)
Airbus A220 assembly line (Mobile)
Mercedes-Benz EV battery assembly plant (Bibb County)
Trade & Industry Development
Corporate Investment/Community Impact (CiCi) Awards — 2019
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA auto assembly plant (Huntsville)
Facebook data center (Huntsville)
Amazon fulfillment center (Bessemer)
Trade & Industry Development
“Deal of the Year” — 2019
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA auto assembly plant (Huntsville)
Business Facilities
“Deal of the Year, Sliver” — 2019
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA auto assembly plant (Huntsville)
Business Facilities
State Rankings Report — 2019
No. 3 state business climate
No. 2 state for workforce training
No. 5 for economic growth potential
2018
Global Trade
“Best States for Manufacturing” — 2018
No. 1 state for manufacturing
Area Development
“Top States for Business” — 2018
No. 3 state for business
Most improved economic development policies
Site Selection
State Business Climate Survey — 2018
No. 7 state for businesses (consultants)
No. 8 state for businesses (overall)