Tampa Bay EDC earns reaccreditation by the International Economic Development Council
March 27, 2024
Tampa, Fla. (March 27,2024) – The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council (EDC) has announced it has been recertified as an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) once again by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Originally accredited in 2017, and reaccredited in 2020, the Tampa Bay EDC is one of only 79 economic development organizations to receive the AEDO designation by IEDC.
“The Tampa Bay EDC displays the professionalism, commitment, and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle.
The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer review process that measures economic development organizations against commonly held standards in the profession. The program consists of two phases: a documentation review and an onsite visit. Each phase is designed to evaluate information about the structure, organization, funding, program, and staff of the candidate economic development organization.
“We received a stellar evaluation from the AEDO review team, and I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work, leadership and dedication of our staff, board and executive committee for building us into one of the strongest economic development organizations in North America,” said Craig J. Richard, CEcD, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. “I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank all our partners and board and executive leaders who participated in our reaccreditation site visit earlier this year. The review team was astonished by our community’s support and collaborative spirit.”
Earning the AEDO accreditation tells the community and prospects that the Tampa Bay EDC attained a measure of excellence assuring that their trust is well placed, and their business is in good hands.
Maintenance of the AEDO status is required every three years and is accomplished through documentation submission and/or onsite visits by a team of the AEDO subcommittee.
In addition to being one of only 79 Accredited Economic Development Organizations (AEDOs) across the globe, the Tampa Bay EDC won IEDC’s 2023 Gold Economic Development Organization of the Year Excellence Award for large markets. Craig Richard also served as Chairman of the IEDC in 2018. Michelle Bauer, the Tampa Bay EDC’s chief operating officer, currently serves as chair of the Florida Economic Development Council, the Florida economic development community’s primary resource for peer connection, professional development, and advocacy.
The International Economic Development Council is the largest membership association serving economic and community development professionals in the world. With over 5,000 members nationwide and abroad, IEDC offers the economic development profession one source for information and professional development, one voice for the profession and one force for advocacy. For more information on the AEDO program, please contact AEDO Program Manager Dana Crater at 910-821-9245 or dcrater@iedconline.org, or visit IEDC’s website at http://www.iedconline.org/AEDO.
About the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council
The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council is the lead designated economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. Established in 2009 as a partnership between the public sector and private corporate investors, the EDC works to advance a diversified local economy that is beneficial to all by attracting, expanding and retaining quality employers, a talented workforce and investment, focusing within targeted industry sectors, including Corporate Headquarters, Financial and Professional Services, Information Technology, Life Science and Health Care, Defense and Security, Distribution and Logistics, and Manufacturing. The EDC exists because of the generous support of more than 100 corporations, Hillsborough County, and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. For more information, visit www.tampabayedc.com.
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