Top people, places, and projects in economic development honored at the annual awards dinner & ceremony
GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO (Oct. 19, 2023) – The Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC) announced the 2023 EDIE award recipients, recognizing economic development excellence during its annual Drive|Lead|Succeed Conference at Grand Junction Convention Center in Grand Junction, Colorado, Oct. 18 – 20, 2023.
The most recognized award in economic development in Colorado, the EDIE represents outstanding achievements by its members, organizations, communities, companies, individuals and legislators for their outstanding achievements in economic development in the State of Colorado. Since 1989, EDCC has celebrated the achievements of over 200 award winners. This year, 12 awardees were recognized:
- Small Community of the Year: Town of Frederick
- Medium Community of the Year: Town of Windsor
- Large Community of the Year: City of Lakewood
- Legislator of the Year: Senator Janice Rich
- Legislator Lifetime Achievement Award: Senator Rachel Zenzinger
- Legislator Lifetime Achievement Award: Representative Shannon Bird
- Company of the Year: Greeley Hat Works
- Economic Development Partnership of the Year: BNSF Railway
- Volunteer of the Year: Commissioner Tim Redmond
- Rookie of the Year: Beth Kremer, San Juan Development Association
- Chairman’s Choice Award: Bonnie Petersen, Retired, formerly with AGNC
- Economic Development Achievement Award: Stacy Brown, Town of Windsor
Links will take you to their individual press announcements.
“The historic Avalon Theatre in downtown Grand Junction was the perfect place to honor this diverse and talented cast of contributors to Colorado’s economic development community,” said Drew Kramer, EDCC Board Chair and Economic Development Program Manager for Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. ”Each of the winners represents a key piece of the complex puzzle we must complete to ensure an economically viable future for Colorado – from large and small communities to national corporations and local businesses to elected officials and individual professionals and advocates.”
Kramer further noted the hard work that EDCC Executive Director Kim Woodworth, her staff and several volunteers put in to make the Drive|Lead|Succeed Conference such an effective gathering of the state’s economic development professionals, policymakers and business leaders. An estimated 300 attendees converged in Grand Junction for an agenda rich with content covering everything from housing and the impacts of the outdoor recreation industry to leadership development and demographic trends. Taking place, the second night of the conference, the EDIE Awards ceremony was held at the recently renovated Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction’s Main Street District.