With 33 categories to choose from in the Excellence in Economic Development Awards, you are sure to find one (or more!) that fits a project or program you are proud of.

Have you been working on a collaborative project in which larger, private contributions have been combined with smaller public commitments, leading to direct economic growth in the community? Think about submitting in the Public-Private Partnership category.

Hear from a 2015 Gold Award winner, the city of Westbrook, Maine.

Westbrook partnered with seven different private landowners to compile 300 acres of land, where they hosted the city's first Tough Mudder race. The event - which had a regional impact of $3 million - gained the attention of more than 10,000 spectators and participants, nearly half of whom had never been to Westbrook. See what Assistant City Manager Bill Baker had to say about their success.

*please note: the city of Westbrook partnered with third-party landowners, not with IEDC.

While you're at it, sign up for the Showcasing Excellence in Your Community - a free IEDC webinar. Join us at 2 p.m. March 10.

Join the race - get started on your IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Award application today. Make sure to submit by the early bird deadline on April 8.

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,700 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 are engaged in the full range of economic development experience. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in a wide variety of 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.

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