Mississippi was awarded a Gold Shovel by Area Development for the past year's economic success.
Mississippi’s Gold Shovel performance in 2026 is anchored by a surge of warehousing, advanced manufacturing, and energy infrastructure investment that reflects the state’s growing competitiveness in logistics-driven industries. Amazon leads the way with a $210 million distribution and warehousing operation in Marshall County, bringing 1,000 jobs and reinforcing Mississippi’s position along major freight corridors.
Howard Industries follows with $237 million and 450 jobs in electrical transformer manufacturing across Clark, Jones, and Simpson Counties — a critical infrastructure play given the national push to modernize the power grid. Modime adds 450 jobs in data center cooling equipment manufacturing in Grenada County, bringing $38 million in investment and connecting Mississippi to the booming data center supply chain.
The project list broadens into agriculture, industrial machinery, and clean energy. Amick Farms brings 192 jobs to Laurel, ABB adds 122 positions and $40 million in industrial machinery to Senatobia, and Southeastern Timber Products invests $123 million in Ackerman for lumber production. TerraForge Biocarbon Solutions makes a $136 million metals and clean energy play in Magnolia, and ROCKWOOL contributes $105 million in consumer products to Marshall County. BWC Terminals rounds out the story with $316 million in transportation infrastructure in Pascagoula. Mississippi’s Gold Shovel reflects a state competing smart and winning.
