WT Enterprise Center Receives Excellence in Economic Development Award from
the International Economic Development Council
WT Enterprise Center received a Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award for its 2015 project in the category of Regionalism & Cross-Border Collaboration for communities with populations of 25,000-200,000 from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
The honor was presented at an awards ceremony on Monday, October 5, during the 2015 IEDC Annual Conference, which was held October 4-7, in Anchorage, Alaska.
“From localized community projects, to large scale endeavors, economic development efforts have played a vital role in the global economy,” said JoAnn Crary, CEcD, Chair of the International Economic Development Council and President of Saginaw Future Inc. “As we address new and longstanding challenges, these efforts continue to take on even greater importance. The award serves as a salute to pacesetting organizations like the WT Enterprise Center for leading the charge.”
WT Enterprise Center and Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, entered a partnership to accelerate entrepreneurial development through a program, entitled “Incubation with Urgency: A Collaborative Ecosystem for Developing Entrepreneurs”. The partnership enables WT Enterprise Center to provide expedited services to local entrepreneurs through investment provided by Amarillo EDC. The project provides funding for experienced entrepreneurs who coach and mentor growth clients in the incubator. It also creates a culture that exhibits a “no wrong door” mentality when it comes to assisting entrepreneurs. Upon entering the Enterprise Center, a person can plug into the ecosystem and receive help with their idea or existing business, and also receive assistance from other service providers throughout the region. WT Enterprise Center is a rural, mixed-use, incubator and offers facility space including offices, production/manufacturing space and a culinary kitchen for client use. Through business coaching, strategic planning, community resources and programs, the WT Enterprise Center exists to help local entrepreneurs grow their business.
Recipients of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards demonstrate to an experienced panel of judges that they are at the forefront of the economic development profession. They are recognized as the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. These awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
“Our partnership with the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) has allowed us to expand our resources provided to local entrepreneurs in order to help them grow successful businesses,” said WT Enterprise Center Executive Director, David Terry. “Amarillo is very unique in the way we develop our partnerships and create a community of support rather than individual organizations. It’s an honor to have Amarillo’s unique culture of community recognized from the International Economic Development Council”.
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,600 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities, by creating, retaining and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members are engaged in the full range of economic development experience. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in a wide variety of settings including local, state, provincial and federal governments, public private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. www.iedconline.org.
IEDC Contact Information:
Akia Garnett
202-545-7327
For more information on the WT Enterprise Center and the award winning partnership with the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, please contact Marketing Communications Director Kyla Frye, kyla@incubationworks.com or (806) 374-9777. Please visit www.incubationworks.com to see how the WT Enterprise Center is helping local businesses build great companies.
###
