IEDC Recognized Firelands Forward for Excellence in the Field 

Award winners were honored September 20th during the 2022 IEDC Annual Conference. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest nonprofit professional association for professional economic developers in the world, has selected the recipients of its 2022 Excellence Awards. Recognized each year during the IEDC Annual Conference, the awards honor organizations for exemplary economic development marketing campaigns, projects, and programs. 25 award categories honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, & rural communities. 

Firelands Forward was recognized as one of the award-winning organizations for this year’s selection. Firelands Forward received the top award in the Talent Development & Retention category. Through the implementation of various programming solutions, Firelands Forward continues to work with community partners to solve major employment barriers, increase retention, and attract new talent to the region.    

“We are extremely humbled by this recognition, grateful to be a part of this community and region, and excited to continue to work with our partners to enable a healthy and self-actualized workforce, said Firelands Forward Director David White.

Pictured: IEDC President, Nathan Ohle, and Firelands Forward Manager of Business Services & Communications, Makenna Laser.

“Communities need our profession now more than ever. This year’s awardees exemplify the ingenuity, leadership, and determination needed to meet the challenges of today and the future. The winners of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development awards represent the best of economic development and demonstrate the level of leadership that our profession strives for every day,” shared IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle.  

“This year’s awards selection process was especially competitive. We are honored to recognize the more than 100 communities whose marketing submissions, projects, and partnerships have improved regional quality of life,” added IEDC Awards Advisory Committee Chair Christina Winn. 

Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world. IEDC received over 500 submissions from the United States and four additional countries around the world.  

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 4,800 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 practices. 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. 

Firelands Forward: 247 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky, OH, United States, Ohio