St. Louis County Economic Council Receives Excellence in Economic Development Award from IEDC
Contact: Erin Way, Media Relations
(202) 942-9474, eway@iedconline.org
September 28, 2010
St. Louis County Economic Council received an Excellence in Economic Development Award for their Certificate Program in Economic Development in the category of Training for communities with populations of greater than 500,000 from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
The honor was presented at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 28 during the IEDC Annual Conference, September 26-29 in Columbus, Ohio.
"We recognize the St. Louis County Economic Council for providing successful strategies to promote new paradigms in economic development in this period of global recovery," said William Best, IEDC chair. "Our awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in communities. The St. Louis County Economic Council is showing that they are at the forefront of the economic development profession and are using innovative and effective practices that can be replicated in other communities."
In 2009, St. Louis County Economic Council (SLCEC) partnered with Saint Louis University (SLU) and Urban Land Institute-St. Louis District Council (ULI) to design a Certificate Program in Economic Development. The program was targeted to public sector staff, mayors, city council and chamber members to better understand the complex world of development.
The goal of the Certificate Program in Economic Development was to fill a need in the St. Louis metropolitan area -- a practitioner-based program in economic development. Ultimately, the program challenged government officials to expand their knowledge and skills in critical areas pertinent to the growth and economic development of their communities.
The Certificate Program was successful in giving enrollees a thorough understanding into each of the disciplines of economic development through the perspective of distinguished practitioners. As was the goal, they were introduced to the mechanics of development through case studies and were encouraged to share experiences and discuss solutions to common problems, meanwhile, having theory and academia incorporated through the involvement of SLU's nationally renowned public policy and public administration program.
Founded in 1984, SLCEC is a not-for-profit economic development organization responsible for creating high-quality business and employment opportunities for long-term diversified growth throughout St. Louis County and region. SLCEC oversees several local and regional economic development programs including World Trade Center Saint Louis, various loan programs, small business incubators, business development and retention services, and community redevelopment.
The Excellence in Economic Awards Program annually recognizes the world's best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year's most influential leaders. The program honors organizations and individuals in 28 categories for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is the premier membership organization dedicated to helping economic development professionals create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve the quality of life in their regions. Serving more than 4,500 members, IEDC represents the largest network of economic development professionals in the world. IEDC provides a diverse range of services, including conferences, certification, professional development, publications, research, advisory services and legislative tracking.
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