Awards

EDIE AWARDS

EDIE AWARDS
Each year EDIE awards are give to acknowledge individual, corporate and community contributions to the economic development of Colorado. Awards presented include: Economic Developer of the Year, Greatest contribution by a Non-Economic Development Professional, Rookie of the Year, Legislator of the Year, Large Community of the Lear, Small Community of the Year, and Company of the Year. All awards are presented during the spring conference with the exception of the Legislator of the Year which is presented during the fall conference.

COMPANY OF THE YEAR
The Company of the Year Award is presented to a Colorado company that demonstrates support for economic development through financial and leadership participation, etc. The award recipient must also show support for the community by being actively engaged in community issues. The final criteria for this award are a significant expansion or investment during the year.

SMALL COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
The award for Small Community of the Year is presented to a community under 20,000 in population that demonstrates support for economic development through an organized economic development program and strong leadership. The community must also illustrate long-term planning and investment in the development of the community through infrastructure planning, permanent economic development funding and strategies. Realization of a special project or development is also considered.

LARGE COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
The award for Large Community of the Year is presented to a community over 20,000 in
population that demonstrates support for economic development through an organized economic development program and strong leadership. The community must also illustrate long-term planning and investment in the development of the community through infrastructure planning, permanent economic development funding and strategies. Realization of a special project or development is also considered.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
EDCC may, each year, choose to present an award to an outstanding, "non-practicing economic development professional" volunteer in Colorado who has demonstrated a multi-year commitment to the vitality, growth and sustainability of the Colorado economy.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The Rookie of the Year is presented to an economic development professional who has been in the profession at least one year in Colorado, but not more than three years. The nominees are recommended by their supervisor for exceptional work on a specific project or issue. The rookie must demonstrate ability or leadership usually limited to a veteran practitioner and show some evidence of professional development or support for professional development in Colorado.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Economic Development Achievement award is the highest honor presented to an economic development professional in Colorado. The nominees must have been a practicing professional in Colorado for at least five years. They must exhibit personal professional development through advanced education or professional certifications. In addition, the candidates must have accomplished economic development success in their community or organization through job growth, capital investment or redevelopment. They must further the development of the profession in Colorado through involvement in regional or state economic development organizations and work to promote the importance of the profession and its purpose by utilizing press coverage of economic development issues and events, providing educational opportunities to non-economic development organizations and elected officials.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
EDCC can present a Special Recognition Award on an "as-warranted: basis to someone that does not fit the criteria of any other award currently given. The Special Recognition award recognizes a person or group that warrants recognition by the EDCC organization for efforts that are of Statewide significance.

Each Spring EDCC members are asked for nominations in the category of Economic Developer, Community, Legislature, Rookie, Volunteer, and Business. As awards committee, appointed by the Board of Directors, reviews the nominations and makes recommendations to the Board. Awards are announced during the Spring Conference.

AWARDS CRITERIA

EDIE Awards Criteria

Economic Development Achievement Award

Practicing professional in Colorado for at least 5 years

Personal professional development – CED, EDI graduate, CDFP?, other?

ED success in their organization/community - Job Growth, Capital Investment, Redevelopment, Increased Tourism, etc.

Furthering development of the profession in Colorado (outside their individual organization) – Involvement in regional ED organization or EDCC, mentorship, legislative work, conference or workshop development, etc.

Promoting the importance of the profession and its purpose – Local or state press coverage of ED issues and events, serving with non-ED organizations as an ED professional, educating elected officials and community leaders, etc.

Community of the Year: (Large and Small)

Demonstrated support for economic development – financial, Board participation, lobbying, etc.

Planning and investment in long term development of the community – infrastructure, permanent financing of ED, targeted strategies to secure primary jobs, etc.

Special project or development during year OR significant strides made in the community that moves your community ahead of others, or where your community has been.

Legislator of the Year: (Fall Conference):

Demonstrated support for economic development initiatives or Primary industry support during last legislative session.

Rookie of the Year

Designed to encourage new professionals who have demonstrated exceptional ability and performance in the field of economic development.

Less than 3 years in the profession but at least 1 year in Colorado

Recommended by their supervisor for exceptional work on a project, issue or problem

Demonstration of ability or leadership usually limited to a veteran ED practitioner

Some evidence of professional development or support for professional development in Colorado

Volunteer of the Year

The criteria for the award are as follows:

The honoree is a citizen of Colorado, or, is from out-of-state but has engaged in significant economic development activities within the state from more than two years.

Is not employed in the profession of economic development as defined or determined by the EDCC board of directors and/or the Awards Committee.

Has a demonstrated history of involvement in economic development projects in Colorado that are of historical significance to the state or a region of the state.

Preferred candidates will demonstrate leadership and involvement in more than one economic development project, unless a single project is of such magnitude that the candidate merits consideration for the one project alone.

Candidates may be selected from a pool of nominees who, at one time in their careers, were economic development professionals. However, consideration for the award should not be based on achievements during their economic development careers.

Business of the Year

Demonstrated support for economic development – financial, Board participation, lobbying, etc.

Support for the community – active and engaged in community issues

Significant expansion or investment during the year

Special Recognition Award

This award can be given on an “as-warranted” basis to someone that does not fit the

criteria of any other award currently listed above.

Recognizes a person or group that warrants recognition by the EDCC organization for efforts that are of Statewide significance.