Economic Recovery Corps fellow Beverly Lee is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and a champion of aerospace- and technology-driven economic development. She is working with ERC host organization Tullahoma (Tenn.) Area Economic Development Corporation to grow an inclusive STEM workforce and increase the region’s economic resilience.

IEDC is proud to announce a new cohort of certified Entrepreneurship Development Professionals (EDPs)! The EDP credential is designed to build capacity for those supporting entrepreneurship in their communities, and demonstrates the skills and expertise to steer communities through entrepreneurship-led economic development (ELED).

Please send an email to your member(s) of Congress serving in the U.S. House of Representatives to support the reauthorization of EDA.

IEDC sent a letter to U.S. Congressional leadership and appropriators today advocating for a disaster supplemental that prioritizes EDA disaster funding to help aid communities in the Southeast region impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. IEDC was joined by signatories the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA), the National League of Cities (NLC), and the State Economic Development Executives Network (SEDE). House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has signaled that a disaster supplemental will be a priority when Congress reconvenes after the November elections. To date, Speaker Johnson is awaiting damage calculations from both storms.

IEDC is excited to announce its new partnership with the Moving the Needle podcast hosted by Christopher Gergen and Johnathan Holifield. The weekly episodes feature visionary leaders who are driving innovative, actionable initiatives to advance inclusive prosperity in communities across the U.S.

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC)’s Board of Directors has selected seven new economic development leaders to serve on the organization's 2025 Board of Directors for a two-year term. The board has also selected the leadership positions for the coming year. The process took place at the annual board meeting on September 15 during IEDC's Annual Conference in Denver. All board and officer terms begin on January 1, 2025.

On September 19, 2024, Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) filed a "manager's package" (S.Amdt.3290) of 93 amendments, including S.Amdt.3103 to reauthorize the Economic Development Administration (EDA), to the SASC-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) filed S.Amdt.3103 to the Reed-Wicker manager's package on behalf of himself and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) as a means to pass the EDA Reauthorization Act (S.3891) into law during the 118th Congress. 

On behalf of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the thousands of economic development organizations and professionals we serve, I would like to thank the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Leadership, Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS), EPW Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for their support of S.Admt. 3103's inclusion in the manager's amendment to the Senate-passed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). IEDC commends this bipartisan effort taken to ensure EDA reauthorization remains on the table for consideration in the 118th Congress. Moreover, IEDC welcomes an opportunity to serve as a resource to the NDAA conference and full Senate and House as a final vote on NDAA FY25 commences.