Ohio County Economic Development Alliance Receives Excellence in Economic Development Award from the International Economic Development Council

Washington, DC  – Ohio County Economic Development Alliance won a Silver Rank for its Ohio County Economic Development Alliance (OCEDA) Website, a project in the category of General Purpose Website of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The honor was presented today at an awards ceremony during the IEDC Annual Conference, which is currently underway.

IEDC's Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world's best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year's most influential leaders. 25 award categories honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers, following a nomination process held earlier this year. IEDC received over 500 submissions from 4 countries.

This new website overcame 2 obstacles hindering us before: OCEDA wasn't very searchable and wasn’t providing information people needed.

“This website gave us the style/substance of a robust, appealing online presence. We're showing up in more searches and hearing from more site selectors. Our requests for information have increased significantly. The OCEDA website, OhioCountyKY.com, continues to be a one-stop-shop for those looking for information about moving to Ohio County to work, live, play, visit, invest, or expand business.” Jodi Ashby, Executive Director of OCEDA. 

Ashby requested the funds to create a new, globally visible website, from the Ohio County Fiscal Court. Once approved, Golden Shovel Agency was contracted to help design and host the site. Ashby and Christina Carpenter, Executive Assistant of OCEDA, have promoted the website both locally, nationally, and internationally. Their goal is to attract new workforce and business to the community and showcase the unique livability of the rural western Kentucky county. 

"It’s paramount in today's world that we have a user-friendly and informational website. I think OCEDA accomplished this and it will benefit our community for years to come." Scott Lewis, State Rep.

"The OCEDA website is a national leader in economic development media. Today, the first visit a community receives is on their website. The team in Ohio County has done a great job of demonstrating the intrinsic qualities of their community and making available the key data on workforce, training assets, properties, incentives, geographic advantage, and more. This is a great Kentucky asset and demonstrates the quality of life and economic advantages in our Commonwealth." Matt Tackett, KAED

The Ohio County Economic Development Alliance (OCEDA) was determined to improve its ability to market itself both within the region, as well as to site selectors, corporate officers, and business owners in any and all locations. One of the cornerstone components we used to accomplish this initiative was to develop a newer, more comprehensive, and more compelling online presence.

“The winners of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development awards represent the best of economic development and exemplify the leadership that our profession strives for every day,” said 2021 IEDC Board Chair and Invest Buffalo Niagara, President, and CEO Tom Kucharski. “We’re honored to recognize the more than 100 communities whose marketing submissions, projects, and partnerships have improved regional quality of life.”

We're incredibly honored to recognize the outstanding organizations that received this year's Excellence Awards. This year, more than ever, has presented opportunities to innovate, impact, and progress the cities, neighborhoods, and communities around us. Each of this year's recipients represents the best of the economic development profession and exemplifies the ingenuity for fellow economic developers to aspire to in the years to come.

About the International Economic Development Council 

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members engage in the full range of economic development experiences. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Learn more at iedconline.org.