24 Oct 2023

Chester wins Excellence in Economic Development awards

Chester County Economic Development (CCED) received two 2023 Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Chester County received a Silver Award for General Purpose Website and a Bronze Award for Economic Development Organization (EDO) of the Year.

CCED Director Robert Long accepted the awards at the inaugural Recognition Night event on Sept. 19 at the IEDC Annual Conference in Dallas.

 “Chester County Economic Development has raised the bar for excellence in economic development. These awards are a testament to CCED’s dedication to its residents and serve as a great example of how economic development can help transform a community for the better,” Nathan Ohle, IEDC president and CEO, said. “It is IEDC’s honor and privilege to present Chester County Economic Development with these awards and recognize its leadership and innovation in the field of economic development!”

Every year, IEDC looks specifically for economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development.

“Last year, Chester County and the Chester Development Association partnered on our first rebrand in more than a decade, which resulted in this award-winning website,” Brian Hester, Chester County administrator, said.  “The EDO of the Year is a great recognition of the hard work of county council and CCED staff that resulted in more than $2.5 billion in new capital investment in the last two and a half years. Quite the accomplishment for a small, rural county!”

“Through strong public-private partnerships, our strategic initiatives and impactful programs are helping to create good jobs, support existing businesses, and recruit outstanding new companies,” Robert Long, director of CCED, said. “There’s more work to be done, yet it’s gratifying to see our team’s efforts make a real difference in revitalizing and shaping the economic future of our community. We thank IEDC for this acknowledgement and will continue striving for excellence.”

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