Annual Economic Development Awards

This award recognizes a collaborative project having significant and measurable impact on a city, county or region. The project must have already broken ground and be in the initial phase of implementation between January 2025 and May 2026. The measurable impact can include capital investment, jobs, supplier network, economic impact or new partnership initiatives that positively improve the community.  

This award will recognize a marketing campaign with a significant positive outcome in raising awareness, creating interest, and/or generating leads for economic development. This campaign must be on behalf of a geographical region (community, county, state, or region), and may take the form of an annual report/newsletter, event, or online program. 

Recognizes a project that your community, region, or state utilized while overcoming a challenge. This challenge could be anything from a factory shut-down to a natural disaster. Entries should display a creative and impactful solution to overcoming the challenge.

Recognizes an activity or innovative program that attracts new talent, strengthens the skills of an existing workforce, and/or encourages talent retention. The activity or program should demonstrate a new, impactful, or creative way to approach talent acquisition, retention, and growth.

Recognizes a program that offers a unique approach to enhancing the entrepreneurial culture in your city or region. This may be a unique approach for assisting young companies through the early stages of a business life cycle, a program to inspire and promote small business, or other efforts in your area.

This award will recognize projects or programs that make your community a better place to live, work, and play by transforming underutilized public spaces into vibrant community places. Placemaking capitalizes on a local community’s assets, inspirations and potential that contribute to people’s health, happiness, safety and well-being. 

The People's Choice Award will be selected from all awards submissions and voted on by attendees of the Mid-America EDC 2026 Annual Conference. 

The Economic Development Impact Award recognizes an individual who has been an economic development professional in the Mid-America region for at least the past year who has been impactful through their efforts as an economic developer. The award celebrates an individual who has met the challenges of providing economic development and who demonstrates the ability and commitment to positively impact their community’s/organization’s/region’s economic growth.