The Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC) and several of its municipal and regional partners earned top international honors as part of the International Economic Development Council’s (IEDC) 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Awards.
Demonstrating the power of statewide collaboration, EDCC and its partners at Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI), along with the broader “Team Colorado” coalition listed below, brought home a Gold Excellence Award in Innovation in Economic Development Week for its statewide effort, “EDWeek Sustaining Momentum: EDCC’s Multi-Layered Statewide Economic Development Week Campaign & Community Activation Checklist.” Separately, EDCC won a Bronze Excellence Award in the General Purpose Website category for edcconline.org.
Reflecting a banner year for Colorado economic development, several local organizations across the state also earned top honors:
- Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP): Awarded Silver for Economic Development Organization of the Year and Silver in the Annual Report category for its “2025 Annual Report.”
- City of Westminster: Earned Bronze in the Magazine & Newsletter category for its “2026 Economic Profile” and Bronze in the Paid Advertising category for “Westy Restaurant Week.”
- City of Commerce City: Won Silver in the Postsecondary Education Partnership category for its “Commerce City Promise” (C3 Promise) workforce initiative.
All honorees will be formally recognized during the IEDC 2026 Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 25–28.
“The Economic Development Council of Colorado and its regional partners are leading the field of excellence in economic development. These awards shine a spotlight on Colorado’s collective commitment to its communities and showcase the significant impact of economic development,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. “IEDC is honored to celebrate their leadership and innovation in the field.”
Each year, IEDC honors organizations, government entities, and initiatives that consistently demonstrate excellence, leading transformational projects that revitalize communities.
“Economic development is a team sport − we are only as strong as our weakest link, and building resilient communities takes strong partnerships and ongoing collaboration,” said Kim Woodworth, Executive Director, EDCC. “We used Economic Development Week as a catalyst to amplify the vital role of responsible economic development, but our ultimate goal is to elevate the incredible work happening across Colorado year-round. By joining forces with an elite network, we created a unified movement to support and sustain every Colorado community. Seeing EDCC and its statewide network recognized alongside incredible partners like Grand Junction, Westminster, and Commerce City proves that Colorado’s collaborative model is setting a national standard.”
“Collaboration is the cornerstone of effective statewide economic development so we can support strong, diversified economies across Colorado in communities of all sizes,” said Eve Lieberman, Executive Director of OEDIT. “By partnering with EDCC and local leaders, we continue a legacy of working together that creates new opportunities for Coloradans. These IEDC awards highlight the exceptional leadership driving economic opportunity across our entire state.”
“Team Colorado” Drives Statewide Impact
The success of this Gold-winning initiative belongs entirely to the collective whole of “Team Colorado,” which has reshaped economic development across the state. EDCC facilitated the infrastructure—building the toolkit and organizing regional discussions—so a multi-agency network could lead the charge.
Together with partners including Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI), the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC), Manufacturer’s Edge, USDA, EDA, the Colorado SBDC Network, Startup Colorado, and CO|ALIGN, this collective network transformed how advocacy is delivered by:
- Amplifying Value & Activity: Shifted the conversation from a one-week celebration into a year-round advocacy baseline, highlighting local economic impacts and business retention efforts across urban and rural communities alike.
- Fostering Strategic Collaboration: Unified state, regional, and federal entities, alongside local EDOs, to pool resources, remove geographic barriers, and deliver shared technical education.
- Empowering Local Communities: Distributed turnkey activation toolkits to give under-resourced communities an accessible starting resource to find their voice, ensuring local organizations had the tools and network visibility to share their stories.
EDCC was also awarded a Bronze for edcconline.org, recognized as a one-of-a-kind statewide clearinghouse designed to inform, educate, and connect economic practitioners, civic leaders, and the broader ecosystem in driving Colorado’s economy forward.
This year’s awards take on special meaning as IEDC celebrates its 100th anniversary, and EDCC celebrates its 50th anniversary. In recognizing excellence in economic development, IEDC and its partners are celebrating successes and shining a spotlight on programs that inspire and prepare the field for the next century.
About the Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC)
Established in 1976, the Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC) is the state’s premier resource for effective, responsible economic development. EDCC brings together a diverse statewide network—spanning public and private sectors, rural and urban communities, higher education, local governments, and business leaders. Through high-quality educational opportunities, trusted resources, and active advocacy for sound economic policies, EDCC works to foster a vibrant economy and enhance the quality of life for all Coloradans.
About the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
Based in Washington, D.C., IEDC is the world’s largest association for economic developers. Originating a century ago, IEDC is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that represents the entire economic development profession. Members include practitioners in economic development through local, state, provincial, and federal governments, non-profits, public-private partnerships, entrepreneurial support organizations, chambers of commerce, utilities, universities, and a variety of other organizations.
IEDC is the leading voice in driving the future of the field. IEDC provides professional development through courses and certifications, networking, conferences, research, policy advocacy, partnerships, and other valuable offerings to economic development professionals across the globe.