2024 Bob Ady Scholarship Program

2024 Bob Ady Scholarship Program

The Mid-America Economic Development Council is pleased to announce that we are now accepting scholarship applications for the 2024 Bob Ady Scholarship program.  

The scholarship program is named in memory of Bob Ady, a champion for economic development in the U.S. and especially the Midwest. The purpose of this scholarship program is to assist new economic development professionals in furthering their professional development through conference participation and mentoring. This program is available for Mid-America EDC members and non-members, and applicants new to economic development will be given preference. Applicants will be evaluated based on their interest in economic development overall, as well as their interest in the Mid-America EDC organization.

The Mid-America EDC is a multi-state association dedicated to being the leading resource for education, making connections, and sharing best practices for economic development professionals. 

The Mid-America EDC provides economic development professionals with the following:

• Resources aimed at helping the economic development professional to excel

• Recognition of quality economic development programs and marketing

• Awards program to reward excellence

• Promotion of the 13-state region to site selectors and industries to help raise the level of awareness

• Networking opportunities among regional members to promote idea exchange and partnering

Five scholarship recipients will be selected and will receive:

• Registration to both conferences – the 2024 Best Practices Conference July 17-19 in Sioux Falls, SD and the   2024 Competitiveness Conference December 4-6 in Columbus, Ohio.

• Monthly mentoring, beginning in March, from leaders in the Mid-America EDC region (Please note that mentoring topics will be suggested as listed in the form below, and the scholarship recipient may customize their mentoring to work at the appropriate pace.)  

Additional consideration will be given to applicants who reach out to one of the board members from his/her state to advise that he/she is applying for this year’s scholarship.  Each state’s board members can also answer any questions that applicants may have about the Mid-America EDC organization.  Board Member information is found at http://www.midamericaedc.org/midamericaedc/about/board-of-directors/?cat=board. 

For consideration for the 2024 Bob Ady Scholarship, please submit your application no later than January 22, 2024, at https://MAEDC.formstack.com/forms/2024bobadyscholarship. 

The Mid-America Economic Development Council will review all scholarship applications and will contact the selected applicants in mid-February.  Scholarship recipients that are selected will be notified with full details.  Recipients are eligible to receive a Bob Ady scholarship once.  Applicants that are not selected are eligible to apply again.  Recipients are expected to attend both conferences and participate in monthly mentoring sessions. 

View Past Scholarship Recipients