Excellence Awards
Overview
Why should my organization apply?
How does my organization participate?
What does my organization win?
FAQ
The Excellence in Economic Development Awards program consists of 26 unique categories showcasing transformative projects that have profoundly impacted communities, regions, and nations. Award winners are recognized in-person at the 2025 Annual Conference and throughout the year via IEDC's communication channels.
All organizations, big or small; in rural, urban or suburban communities; U.S.-based or international, are eligible and encouraged to participate in this competitive program.
Should you have any questions about the Excellence Awards program, please email [email protected] or call (202) 223-7800.
This program is an opportunity to:
- Validate your organization's vision and mission
- Showcase the impact of your organization's work
- Celebrate and recognize staff members at all levels
- Increase credibility and trust with your stakeholders
- Build more influence in the economic development field
Discover other reasons organizations apply by viewing the testimonials found at the bottom of this page.
Please review all information listed below on the program's timeline, entry fees, and overall processes to learn how your organization can participate in this year's program.
IEDC is excited to see and honor your organization's great work!
If selected as an award winner, you will receive:
- Industry recognition at the IEDC 2025 Annual Conference
- Brand and community exposure through IEDC's communication channels
- A media kit with digital assets that include a third-party endorsement from IEDC for your organization to use as it sees fit
- Feedback from judges to assist your organization and its efforts now and in the future
If my organization was unsuccessful last year, can it participate again in this year's program?
Yes, you can enter again, provided you pay the entry fee and submit your application through the portal. It is strongly recommended that you update any previous information and digital supporting documentation to align with the current Awards Category requirements to better your odds of winning an award this year.
Can my organization submit multiple projects to be considered for this program?
Yes, you are welcome to submit as many projects as you would like with this program. Please keep in mind each project will incur an entry fee and require a unique application to be submitted through the portal.
Can my organization submit a single project for multiple Awards Categories?
Yes, you may submit a single project for consideration with multiple Awards Categories. Please be aware that you will incur an entry fee for each Awards Category. Also, while it is the same project, you should revise the application information and digital supporting documentation to fit the requirements of each Awards Category.
Can my organization submit an application on behalf of one of its stakeholders?
Yes! However, you must notify the stakeholder prior to submitting the application through the portal.
How long does it take an organization to draft and submit an application?
An organization can expect to spend 1-3 hours total on an application. However, the time will vary based on the Awards Category and an organization's ability to repurpose prior content it already has available for a project.
Can my organization email and/or mail an application to IEDC?
No, any application IEDC receives by email and/or mail will not be included in the program. You must use the submission portal.
What can my organization include as digital supporting documentation for a project?
Digital supporting documentation may include additional project information, charts, graphs, photos, videos, audio, and/or other visuals. In some instances, IEDC has specifically stated what digital supporting documentation is required for the Awards Category.
What should my organization submit for digital supporting documentation if "applicable documentation" is all that is stated for the Awards Category?
You should submit documentation that allows the judges to obtain further insight into your project. Often the judges prefer visual representations, hyperlinks, and/or other resources that allow them to see the project in action.
Why does IEDC charge entry fees for this program?
Entry fees are charged by IEDC to scale the operations and systems of this program, which ensure its continued growth and high standards. If your organization is interested in applying this year, but unable to cover the entry fees in full, please email [email protected] to discuss what options are available to you.
Timeline
| March 31 - May 2 | Apply via the portal |
| May 12-30 | Individual judging |
| June 13 | Group judging |
| June 30 | Notifications sent to all applicants |
| August 13 | Media kit provided to winners |
| August 20 | IEDC announces winners |
| August 21 | Winners share their success |
| September 15-16 | IEDC honors winners at the 2025 Annual Conference |
Entry Fees
To determine the non-refundable fee you will remit per entry, find the population size served by your organization along with your member type.
| Less than 25,000 | More than 25,000 | |||||||
| Member Type | Early Bird (Ends April 18) |
Standard (Ends May 2) |
Member Type | Early Bird (Ends April 18) |
Standard (Ends May 2) |
|||
| First-Timer* | $75.00 | $100.00 | First-Timer* | $75.00 | $100.00 | |||
| IEDC Member | $100.00 | $120.00 | IEDC Member | $120.00 | $170.00 | |||
| Non-Member | $100.00 | $120.00 | Non-Member | $200.00 | $250.00 | |||
*To qualify for the "First-Timer" fee, you must submit this form. IEDC will confirm that your organization has never submitted an application between 2021-2025, and then you will be provided with a unique code to enter with your credit card payment in the submission portal.
Application Process
Simply follow the steps below to enter an application for consideration:
- Determine the Awards Category "Description" and "Eligibility" that best aligns with your project
- Review the Awards Category "Application & Judging Criteria" to compile the proper information and digital supporting documentation
- Log in to the submission portal no later than Friday, May 2 to:
- Fill in the official application form with the information and digital supporting documentation you already gathered up
- Pay your non-refundable entry fee via credit card
- Check your inbox on Monday, June 30 for a notification from IEDC to learn if your project was selected as an award winner or not
Judging Process
The process consists of two rounds of judging as described below.
| Round #1 Individual Judging (May 12-30) |
Round #2 Group Judging (June 13) |
|
|
|
Winston Brooks, Executive Director
The program has been fair and challenging. It gives my organization credibility and is a tangible result to help advocate with policymakers.
Tullahoma Area Economic Development Corporation
Alex Beck, Welcoming Communities Manager
Every year, we are challenged to summarize work that we are proud of in a concise way. It is a great exercise for our staff, with the added bonus of any awardees having the opportunity to travel, experience the conference, and build our reputation more widely.
Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation
Maria Satira, Marketing & Communications Director
I enjoy the process of submitting awards and the thought-provoking prompts as part of it. While it is expensive to submit for consideration, I find it valuable as we still receive feedback, even if we do not place. As a two-time winner, I really enjoyed the work of our organization being recognized and I look forward to submitting applications for more categories this year.
Greenville Eastern North Carolina Alliance
Jim Spencer, Executive Director
It is good to have an organization like IEDC recognize the hard work in rural communities as well. It gives us motivation to work harder.
Bluefield Economic Development Authority
Mark Maliskey, Marketing & Communications Manager
This is a great way to garner recognition and validate the work that is being done. The Excellence Awards program helps prove to our stakeholders, investors, and board of directors that we are not just doing the work every day, we are doing international award-winning work!
Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation
Amy Madison, Deputy Director
Receiving awards helps to recognize our local effort as we strive for excellence. Our programming and achievements locally are important, but when benchmarked with national and international efforts it helps our local leaders and community see that our efforts are some of the best in the country.
Schertz Economic Development Corporation
SITE MAP
Back to top