|
Accredited Economic Development Organization Program
About AEDO | The Process and Benefits | Apply | Re-accreditation | Downloads
In today's competitive and challenging economic environment, it's vital to show that your organization is at the top of the field, not only to earn the trust of your stakeholders, but to open doors to opportunities reserved only for the best of the best in the field. The Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) program offers you that opportunity. Recognizing the professional excellence of organizations in the field, AEDO status says to your community that your organization is a leading authority on economic-related issues.
Be Part of an Elite Network
When your organization receives AEDO accreditation, you become part of an elite group of economic development organizations. AEDO status enables you to network with peers in the industry in ways that are unparalleled. See the up to date list of AEDO organizations.
In 2009, IEDC and The Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute launched a new initiative to create up-to-date benchmarks by surveying current AEDOs. Stakeholders from each organization were asked to assess their organizations on the basis of 10 key indicators related to quality management. The survey found certain key similarities among AEDOs, particularly in the areas of Customer and Market Focus, Partnerships and Relationships and Results. To learn more, read the full report (2.6 Mb PDF).
The Process and Benefits of Accreditation
As part of the AEDO accreditation process, your organization receives a thorough, peer-reviewed organizational assessment that is unmatched.
Internal and external operations are examined, structures and procedures are evaluated, and instead of getting feedback from consultants, you are evaluated and mentored by in-the-trenches economic developers working in organizations just like yours.
Organizations that earn the AEDO designation enjoy enhanced visibility within the community and better credibility with stakeholders, including business leaders, political leaders, funders and clients.
To date, more than thirty elite economic development entities have earned the AEDO designation. These are the best of the best, models of achievement in the economic development field.
What Types of Economic Development Organizations Are Getting Accredited?
• State and local government economic development departments
• Local and regional public private partnerships
• View a list of accredited organizations
• Download the AEDO Flyer (PDF)
The Accreditation Process
The accreditation process consists of two phases, designed to elicit specific information about the structure, organization, funding, programs, and staff of the candidate economic development organization.
Phase 1: Documentation Review
Applicants submit documents demonstrating the organization’s development, structure and activity. The document review process determines if organizations are eligible for a site team visit. The requirements for the documentation review are detailed in the AEDO Program Outline (90 Kb PDF).
Phase II: Site Team Visit
The site team visit is designed to assess the organization in action. An AEDO subcommittee is carefully chosen, with an eye toward selecting peers who serve in organizations similar to yours. Members of the AEDO subcommittee and/or Certified Economic Developers conduct the visit. The guidelines and evaluation criteria for the site team visit are detailed in the AEDO Program Outline (90 Kb PDF).
When You Earn AEDO Status...Showcasing Your Achievement
Entities that become accredited become part of a network of distinguished leadership organizations in the field.
Achieving AEDO status is a noteworthy achievement. As such, your organization receives a plaque to display its accreditation status. You will also receive our help in promoting your achievement of AEDO status to local media. We provide links to all AEDO organization web sites from the IEDC web site in order to give you additional recognition and promotion.
Once certified, AEDO organizations are invited to take part in our annual meeting of AEDO’s at our annual conference.
In addition, as an accredited organization, you receive exclusive use of the AEDO logo for your letterhead, promotional materials and web site. Accredited and re-accredited organizations are also profiled in IEDC's member newsletter and ED Journal.
How Do I Get Started?
Please read the AEDO Program Outline (90 Kb PDF) for an explanation of the detailed AEDO application process. Once you are ready to apply, please send three application binders (as described in the AEDO Program Outline), a letter of intent, along with the $275* application fee ($300 for state-level organizations) to:
Liz Thorstensen
Senior Associate/ AEDO Program Manager
734 15th Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005
Once your application has been approved, the AEDO Accreditation fee is due in full, prior to the site visit evaluation (see Fee Schedule, p. 14).
The applicant organization is also responsible for all costs associated with the site visit evaluation, including transportation, food and lodging for the AEDO evaluation team (please see AEDO Program Outline for further details).
Please make all checks payable to International Economic Development Council, and write "AEDO" on the memo line.
• AEDO Program Outline (90 Kb PDF) (Please note that this has been updated for 2009)
• AEDO Frequently Asked Questions (41 Kb PDF)
Re-accreditation
Organizations that become accredited must go through a re-accreditation process every three years. To become re-accredited, organizations must provide detailed information according to re-accreditation standards for review by the AEDO subcommittee. Organizations must submit both an application and maintenance form from the links below.
• Download AEDO re-accreditation application form (30 Kb PDF)
• Download AEDO re-accreditation maintenance form (47 Kb PDF)
Contact
If you have questions or would like more information on the AEDO program, please contact:
Liz Thorstensen
Senior Associate/ AEDO Program Manager
734 15th Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 942-9484
E-mail: ethorstensen@iedconline.org
Downloads
• Download the AEDO Flyer (PDF)
• AEDO Powerpoint Presentation from IEDC’s 2010 Annual Conference (323 Kb PDF)
• 2009 AEDO Benchmarking Excellence Report (PDF)
|
