For the last century, economic developers have understood a fundamental truth: prosperity requires infrastructure. Water, electricity, roads, ports and airports created the foundation on which businesses could grow and communities could prosper. Those earlier investments did more than improve transportation and public services. They reshaped local

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is pleased to announce that 23 individuals have been awarded the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation following a multi-part examination process conducted in September 2026.  “Economic developers play a vital role in shaping the future of their communities. They drive investment,

On September 30, U.S. Senate leaders introduced the bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S. 5653), a comprehensive proposal to reform the federal permitting and environmental review process. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Sen. Sheldon

A city can work hard to attract investment, support entrepreneurs and revitalize its commercial districts. But for a business trying to open or expand, the local economic environment is often experienced much more practically: How long will a permit take? Which licenses are needed? Is the site correctly zoned? Which agency needs to approve what?

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced FY 2025 and FY 2026 awards through four Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund programs, supporting access to capital, small business and consumer lending, and community development investments nationwide. The announcement comes as the CDFI Fund has faced increased scrutiny and operational

Congress has approved and the President has signed a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government funded through December 11, 2026, avoiding a government shutdown at the start of the new fiscal year. The measure, H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, was approved by the House on September 1 by a vote of

The economic development field is undergoing a profound shift. For decades, economic developers were akin to big game hunters, looking to land rare and prized employers that filled large square footages, located company headquarters, and brought mega-projects to a community. Today, the work of economic developers in many communities is stretching far

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is excited to unveil the winners of its 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Awards. These projects and organizations were selected by an esteemed cohort of judges and demonstrate the ingenuity and commitment necessary to foster transformative economic growth and prosperity in communities across the