The federal Opportunity Zone (OZ) program has undergone its most significant update since it was created in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-97). Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P. L. 119-21, enacted July 4, 2025), the program is now permanent and includes new rules aimed at tightening eligibility, expanding rural incentives, and increasing

Following the release of the President’s FY 2026 budget request earlier this year, the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees have been working steadily to advance the twelve annual appropriations bills that fund the federal government. As of late July, several of these bills have moved through committee in both chambers. While the overall

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is excited to welcome and congratulate the 37 individuals who have recently earned the internationally recognized Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation. The multiple choice portion of the CEcD exam was administered on Friday, July 18, 2025, and oral interviews took place during the week of July

On July 23, 2025, the White House released its AI Action plan outlining more than 90 federal actions to advance U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence. The plan, titled “Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan,” introduced alongside a redesigned AI.gov portal, focuses on developing AI as a cornerstone of both U.S. economic

On May 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passed reconciliation legislation, named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), by a vote of 215-214. The bill includes several policy priorities of the White House and of the 119th Congress related to extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and addresses immigration, healthcare, and social safety net

PHOENIX, AZ – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC), in partnership with Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and Prosperity Strategies, proudly announces the launch of the Arizona Sustainable Economic Development Learning Lab, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to help Arizona’s economic development professionals integrate

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Foundation are proud to announce the recipients of the third iteration of the Certificate in Workforce Development Fundamentals program. This cohort builds on the momentum of the previous groups, marking continued progress in advancing IEDC and