Dear IEDC Members, Friends, and Partners,

As 2025 comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the past year and the conversations I have had with so many of you. I am deeply grateful for our economic development community, the meaningful progress we’ve made together, and most importantly, the way this community shows up in support of one another. Whether you have been part of IEDC and this profession for decades or are just starting your journey, your passion and collective action continue to inspire me.

This year, I had the privilege of connecting with more than 525 economic development leaders individually from across the globe, and visited communities big and small across more than 14 states and two countries. Everywhere I went, I heard how economic developers were collaborating to drive prosperity in your communities and regions, and how important your connections were with peers across the globe, especially amid the geopolitical dynamics and economic uncertainty many communities faced this year. It is a powerful reminder of the unique power of collaboration and connection in economic development.

Celebrating 2025's Achievements

As always, your voices shape IEDC’s priorities, and your feedback continues to inform our work, our organization, and the broader field. My favorite part of this role is the opportunity to learn from so many of you, connect around what matters most, and see how your relationships and partnerships with one another strengthen your work. This is what makes IEDC so special: the shared mission, the service-oriented spirit, and the real impact you are making in your communities. Nowhere else will you find the level of passion, collaboration, and commitment that defines economic development — and it is that energy that continues to move our profession forward, together.

Together, we have achieved some incredible milestones in 2025:

• More than 25% membership growth
• Over 2,250 courses completed
• 81 new CEcDs, 18 new EDPs, and nine new AEDOs, the highest number of each in more than five years
• 20 new AEDO reaccreditations 
• The highest collective attendance at conferences since 2017
• More than $240 million leveraged for communities being served through the Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) Fellows
• The reauthorization of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the first time in 20 years, and more than $1.5 billion in disaster recovery funding for economic development efforts
• The creation of the first-ever Rural Retreat, with more than 425 participants in Great Falls, Montana
• The completion of the first-ever State of the Field survey and report, with more than 150,000 data points collected, and a new interactive dashboard for IEDC members to utilize the data based on their needs
• The creation of a new Women in Economic Development Community of Practice with hundreds of participants
• Record-breaking participation in Economic Development Week

You, our members, are what make these achievements possible, ensuring we continue to meet the needs of our members and communities as our profession continues to grow and evolve.

Embracing the Future

As we approach 2026, we look forward to celebrating IEDC’s 100^th Anniversary! Throughout the year, you will see Centennial Celebrations woven into everything we do, culminating with a grand celebration as part of the IEDC Annual Conference in New Orleans! The 100^th Anniversary is not just an opportunity to celebrate all that has been accomplished, it is also a chance to set the table for the next 100 years in economic development. Your voices will be incredibly important throughout the year as we start to look towards the future, strengthen collaborations, build new partnerships, and create new opportunities.

Looking ahead, we are excited to:

• Host the Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, focusing on bipartisan collaboration and leadership development. The Leadership Summit is an opportunity to spur leadership, effectuate policy and thought leadership, and to provide a trusted voice for the future of economic development.
• Launch the Centennial Event Series, a roadshow of regional events across the globe, in partnership with state associations or regional EDO leaders.
• Build out a Rural Community of Practice to more deeply engage our rural economic development leaders throughout the year.
• Continue to build out our partnerships with other international organizations and better serve our global economic development community.
• Celebrate IEDC’s 100^th Anniversary in New Orleans, Louisiana, from October 25-28, 2026.
• Implement new systems and infrastructure to drive better customer service and provide the tools and resources that truly meet the needs of the field.

As always, we will continue to create pathways for your own journey alongside IEDC, ensuring your experience is profound through professional development, conferences, communities of practice, and a multitude of other opportunities to engage, all in support of IEDC’s strategic plan.

With Gratitude

None of this would be possible without the incredible contributions of our board of directors and the talent and dedication of the IEDC team. Your collective voices in our strategic planning process guide our work every day, and the leadership, vision, and commitment of our board and members have been instrumental in driving our successes and positioning IEDC for a bright future.

At the heart of all we do is you — our members. You are what makes this work special. Your feedback is critical, your engagement is vital, and your commitment to one another helps to drive innovation and create positive change in the communities we serve.

As the year wraps up, take a moment to appreciate all we have collectively accomplished this year. We look forward to partnering with you in 2026 and helping lay the foundation for the next 100 years of economic development. 

Wishing you and your loved ones a restful holiday season and a Happy New Year!