WEDC Awarded Economic Development Honors

MADISON, WI. Oct. 8, 2015 – The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) received two Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)—one for Sustainable and Green Development, and the other for a Special Purpose Website.

The awards were announced at a ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 6, during the 2015 IEDC Annual Conference in Anchorage, Alaska.

Entrants were categorized by population, with WEDC earning honors in the “greater than 500,000” category.

WEDC shares its Silver Award for Sustainable and Green Development with the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) for the Wisconsin Profitable Sustainability Initiative (PSI), an innovative, customizable and highly effective program that helps small and midsize manufacturers achieve a range of economic, social and environmental benefits through the implementation of sustainable business practices. Established in 2010, the program is administered by WMEP and funded by WEDC. The program has helped establish Wisconsin as a leader in sustainable manufacturing as measured by the high percentage of manufacturers in the state that utilize sustainable practices and/or manufacture sustainable products.

WEDC’s Bronze Award in the category of Special Purpose Website recognized the Happening.In.Wisconsin.com site dedicated to raising awareness of, and interest in, Wisconsin’s culture of innovation and the new solutions entrepreneurs in the state are developing to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Wisconsin’s talent attraction and retention leadership also drew high praise at the event, with the Fox Cities Regional Partnership named “Best in Show” in the Special Event Category for its Talent Upload initiative funded in part by WEDC. This prestigious award is presented to the best entry out of nearly 500 entries in 24 categories of promotional, programmatic, and partnership awards. The Talent Upload program sought to attract on-demand computer science, IT and engineering talent to the Fox Cities.

“WEDC’s and our partners’ showing in this year’s IEDC Awards program underscores the leadership Wisconsin demonstrates when it comes to cutting-edge economic development programs and initiatives,” said Tricia Braun, WEDC’s deputy secretary and chief operating officer.

“[IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Awards] serve as a salute to pacesetting organizations like the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for leading the charge,” said JoAnn Crary, chair of the International Economic Development Council and president of Saginaw Future Inc.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.