EDIE Awards
EDCC’s Annual EDIE Award recognizes outstanding economic development achievements by our members, organization volunteers, communities, companies and legislators.
Congratulate the 2023 Winners
Click a category below to learn more about this year’s winners.
- Small Community of the Year
- Medium Community of the Year
- Large Community of the Year
- Legislator of the Year
- Legislator Lifetime Achievement
- Legislator Lifetime Achievement
- Company of the Year
- Partnership of the Year
- Volunteer of the Year
- Rookie of the Year
- Chairman’s Choice Award
- Economic Development Achievement
SMALL COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
TOWN OF FREDERICK
Town of Frederick was selected as this year’s ‘Small Community of the Year’ (community population up to 19,999) for its achievements in the following activities:
- The Town doubled down and formed an Economic Development team to serve as the concierge for its local businesses.
- Launched a grant program for brick-and-mortar businesses to be used for property improvements or purchase of new equipment.
- Five notable Business Attraction projects won as a result of multiple site selection and negotiations including precision manufacturing and automation, retail, and distribution, totaling over 135,000 sq ft of industrial space, 500 new jobs, and millions in new capital investment.
- Completed a study assessing the viability in creating a downtown district to support future activation of its downtown.
- And finally, partnering with several organizations and grant programs in pursuit of the construction of the community’s first ever income-restricted multigenerational workforce housing initiative.
MEDIUM COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
TOWN OF WINDSOR
Town of Windsor was selected as this year’s ‘Medium Community of the Year’ (community population between 20,000 – 59,999) for its achievements in the following activities:
- Since the Town’s creation of an economic development department in 2011, they have continued investing in the Economic Development department, infrastructure improvements, regional participation, and community strategic planning. They have increased its departments capacity by supporting three full-time positions who are serving over 25 square miles, 44,000 residents, and over 1,000 businesses. They had a record setting year, recording 175 total prospects and 10 company announcements.
- The Town of Windsor has also been proactive in building infrastructure for future development. The town announced investment into Capital improvements, investing over $91M in planned capital outlay and 67 separate projects including the Police Facility, Wastewater, Roads, Water, and more.
- Focus for the department remains to retain and attract primary employers, retail, and being a business ombudsman/advocate for the business community. Through existing prospect management, strategic partnerships, and process improvements the department has been able to attract and grow national and international companies like Woodward, Tolmar, Lineage Logistics, Intersand USA, and Gotham Greens.
LARGE COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
CITY OF LAKEWOOD
City of Lakewood was selected as this year’s ‘Large Community of the Year’ (community population greater than 60,000) for its achievements in the following activities:
- The creation of the Public Investment Loan Agreement, intended to facilitate the redevelopment of a key mixed-use parcel, bringing capital investment, an increase in sales tax generation, and new jobs to the community. The Public Investment Loan provides a one-time loan for the demolition and removal of the existing structures on the site. This loan was successfully executed in the demolition of the Holiday Plaza Shopping Center.
- Created three new creative business programs – Mingle with a Mentor, Jumpstart Program, and Common Consumption Areas.
- The City supported businesses through three matching grant programs in 2023 – Business Safety and Security, Commercial Reinvestment, and Adaptive Reuse. All three programs are matching grant awards with a maximum amount of up to $10,000.
- The City is home to a voter-approved Reinvestment Authority that is managed by the Economic Development Department. The Authority encourages private reinvestment within targeted areas to enhance the City’s ability to preserve and restore the vitality and quality of life in the community. Since its inception in 1997, the Authority has established three reinvestment areas in the city and has carried out multiple redevelopment projects that have produced vibrant new places and spaces.
LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR
SENATOR RICH
Senator Rich was selected as this year’s ‘Legislator of the Year’ for her achievements in the following activities:
- Supported in favor of the creation and the codifying of the Rural Opportunity Office within the State Office of Economic Development. Although OEDIT worked to put funding towards one full time employee focused on Rural issues, the office knew that with 73% of our state being considered Rural, that a more dedicated focus and budget towards Rural initiatives were badly needed. We are only as strong as our weakest community.
- Supported SB23-175 reauthorizing the financing mechanism of Downtown Development Authorities (DDA). DDAs focus on supporting and facilitating economic development efforts to enhance the viability of Downtowns through grants, capital investment and improvements to public amenities. We have witnessed a DDA at work this week with the work that Downtown Grand Junction has been doing alongside their partners at the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Business Incubator, Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Grand Junction.
LEGISLATOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
SENATOR ZENZINGER
Senator Zenzinger was selected as this year’s ‘Legislator Lifetime Achievement Winner’ for her achievements in the following activities:
- This legislator is a champion for the creation of a healthy business climate, workforce development, and supporting the needs of employees in order to retain, grow, and attract a highly skilled workforce that helps businesses thrive in Colorado.
- Legislative highlights include:
LEGISLATOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
REPRESENTATIVE BIRD
Representative Bird was selected as this year’s ‘Legislator Lifetime Achievement Winner’ for her achievements in the following activities:
- This legislator is a champion for the creation of a healthy business climate, workforce development, and supporting the needs of employees in order to retain, grow, and attract a highly skilled workforce that helps businesses thrive in Colorado.
- Legislative highlights include:
COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD
Fuel & Iron Realty
Fuel & Iron Realty was selected as this year’s ‘Company of the Year’ for their leadership and support for the community through:
- Forging a bridge between its community’s industrial past and a future which honors the City of Pueblo’s diverse population and bountiful agriculture through a project including restaurant incubation and downtown housing.
- The incubator includes restaurant spaces that will be occupied by local chefs and independent restauranteurs who will receive business planning and finance guidance to build their restaurant business models. Once they are ready for a brick-n-mortar location, the incubator will help them with the site selection process and due diligence.
- In addition to the incubator, 28 affordable housing units have been developed on the top two floors helping bring livability and vibrancy to the downtown area.
- Created strategic local and regional partnerships highlighting community building and the importance of collaboration in helping achieve goals.
PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR AWARD
BNSF RAILWAY
BNSF Railway was selected as this year’s ‘Partnership of the Year’ for its achievements in the following activities:
- BNSF has played an integral role in marketing Colorado’s assets through their various partnerships with EDCC members, current clients, and national site selectors in the continued effort to attract new jobs and new investment to Colorado communities.
- BNSF supports multiple economic development offices throughout the State and is actively working with partners across the Front Range to help bring projects to various localities.
- Since 2017, they have invested over $56 million in Weld County alone, helping drive economic activity in their local communities.
- From Northern Colorado to Pueblo, BNSF continues working to advance new opportunities and expand rail infrastructure which supports multiple industries that strengthen our economy.
- For the last 5 years, BNSF has been a committed member of EDCC and has served on EDCC’s Board of Directors since 2019 as well as the Membership Committee.
- The Texas-based C-Level team annually attends EDCC’s Drive|Lead|Succeed conference to collaborate with and learn from the State’s leading economic development professionals.
- This partner helps recognize the State’s successes in economic development by supporting the EDIE Awards every year and attending associated events.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
COMMISSIONER TIM REDMOND
Commissioner Tim Redmond was selected as this year’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’ for its achievements in the following activities:
- Demonstrated exceptional leadership in economic development for a three-county region, leading efforts to reconstitute an intergovernmental agreement to address the devastating economic and social impacts from a coalmine shutdown.
- Advocates for regionalism, bridging trust gaps with neighboring counties, building collaborative relationships to tackle economic diversification and resiliency; workforce development; affordability housing; access to child care; and regional transportation.
- Commissioner Redmond’s vision and leadership has moved the region forward at an accelerated pace that is inclusive of all three counties and seven communities.
- Serves on the DOLA Energy Impact Assistance Advisory Board, Rocky Mountain Youth Corp., a member of the El Pomar Foundation Northwest Council with a focus on child care, economic development, and the coal transition along with housing and workforce development, and finally, volunteers as a mentor for Partners of Routt County.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
BETH KREMER | SAN JUAN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
Beth Kremer with the San Juan Development Association was selected as this year’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ for her achievements in the following activities:
- Do to large infrastructure gaps in Silverton, Beth focuses primarily on infrastructure including housing, and broadband, as well as diversifying the economy for year-round employment stability.
- In her leadership, she co-Chaired the Rural Philanthropy Days event which showcased a tour bringing funders by bus to see completed/funded projects as well as a plan for future ones.
- She participated in a community visioning project which resulted in the creation of a Master Plan, outlining goals, priorities, and projects for the community. From this effort, Beth created internal infrastructure for the EDO including developing policies and procedures, a website, and the hiring of additional staff, to support the Master Plan.
- Affordable housing in a major issue as currently more than 65% of Silverton’s homes are vacant at least part of the year, as second homes or vacation rentals. Due to its remoteness the town cannot rely on bedroom communities or a large population of commuters for its workforce. Beth is working closely with the Town and County leading the building of single-family homes that will be AMI and deed restricted. The full project will result in 8 single-family homes, 10 townhomes, and a 16-unit apartment complex. This project aims to complete and fully occupy all units by 2028.
CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE AWARD
BONNIE PETERSEN, RETIRED, FORMERLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AGNC
Bonnie Petersen was selected as this year’s ‘Chairman’s Choice Award’ for her Economic Development achievements within the Western Slope over her past five decades.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENT
STACY BROWN | TOWN OF WINDSOR
Stacy Brown was selected as this year’s ‘Economic Achievement Award’ for her achievements in the following activities:
- Stacy has long exemplified a level of commitment to the Town and Region and serves as a model for others.
- Stacy is an Economic Development Institute graduate and has been a dedicated economic development professional throughout Colorado for over 24 years, half of which has been spent in the current community she works for.
- Stacy is regionally minded and works to support Economic Development efforts within the region. Stacy attends monthly regional meetings and has been a long-time member, advocate, and board member of EDCC.