Nebraska received its second consecutive Silver Shovel Award for Economic Development.

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced last Thursday the state earned the award from Area Development, a magazine covering corporate site selection and relocation. The award recognizes the state’s recruitment of investments in 2019.

“Nebraska continues to attract major investments from internationally renowned job creators thanks to our hardworking people, welcoming communities, and business-friendly climate,” Ricketts said in a release. “The Silver Shovel Award underscores our state’s reputation as a great place to invest and grow a business.”

Nebraska’s top 10 projects last year created more than 900 jobs and resulted in a total investment of nearly $1.9 billion, according to the Governor’s Office.

“The industry diversity represented by these ten projects – from technology, to manufacturing, to renewable energy – is the result of a pro-growth environment where any businesses or industry can be positioned to succeed,” said Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Anthony L. Goins.

The companies contributing to the award were Avansya (sweeteners), Google (data center), Great Plains Beef LLC (meat processing), Kawasaki Motors Manfuacturing Corp. USA (aerospace), LinkedIn Corp. (information technology), Merck Animal Health (pharmaceuticals), Monolith Materials Inc. (natural gas products), Plum Creek Wind LLC (wind energy), The Scoular Co. (pet foods) and Thunderhead Wind Energy LLC (wind energy).

Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, Utah and Mississippi won the 2020 Gold Shovel Awards. Other Silver Shovel Awards went to Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Arizona, Missouri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kansas.