World’s largest economic development professional group
gives City 5 awards for projects, outreach
COVINGTON, Ky. – The world’s largest council of economic development professionals has awarded Covington five 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Awards, honoring work on:
- The emerging Covington Central Riverfront neighborhood.
- The Covington Academy of Heritage Trades.
- And the Economic Development Department’s new website, 2023 “Impact Report,” and Spanish translation of its business guide.
Covington Economic Development Director Tom West used the word “humbling” to describe the awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), which has nearly 5,000 members.
“Recognition is always nice, but what makes these awards so special is that they represent the acknowledgement of peers from around the world who see the innovative approaches and world-class quality Covington is investing in its economic future,” West said.
“I think I speak for our entire Department when I say that we were both humbled and overwhelmed to have received five awards,” said West. “The fact that they were for projects and initiatives we all believe in passionately makes it even more humbling.”
Sarah Gallant, Senior Professional Development Associate with the IEDC, said Covington’s Economic Development Department was one of only three organizations to win five awards, which was the highest number of awards bestowed this year. The other organizations were the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, based in Brownsville, Texas, and the Baltimore Development Corporation, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Over the last few years, the Economic Development Department has earned an array of international and national awards and recognition.
In 2021, IEDC saluted Covington with its Bronze Award in the Neighborhood and Retail Category, recognizing the City’s Small Business Incentive Program. That same year, the department won the 2021 American Planning Association’s award for Economic Development Best Practices for the City’s work in the Eastern Corridor (Eastside, Helentown, Austinburg, and Wallace Woods).
Covington’s five prestigious IEDC 2024 awards:
- Gold Award in the Innovative Economic Development Category for the Covington Central Riverfront (CCR). When selecting CCR for the award, one judge stated, “I appreciated the innovative approach to ensuring this site is developed more as a neighborhood rather than as a single, large development. This is more likely to lead to the desired result of feeling like an organic neighborhood, and is not the easiest approach for either planning or economic development, so it is commendable to see that effort and follow-through.” Another judge stated, “This is a creative approach to zoning each section to set this project up for success.”
- Silver Award in the Annual Report Category for the Economic Development Annual Impact Report. One judge said it was “…an exceptional report that conveys a community’s values and the active programs underway moving them forward. Pairing the report with a video was a creative step and one I’m glad to see.” Another judge said, “The words, design, and graphics are compelling and provide a level of excitement and engagement that is great to see.”
- Silver Award in the Postsecondary Education Partnership Category for the Covington Academy of Heritage Trades. “What a cool partnership!” said one judge, who applauded the City’s involvement and purchasing/reuse of a building, combined with the educational piece and training. “This is impressive,” that same judge wrote. “A true grow-your-own workforce and mutually beneficial partnership. … I think this could be a real best practice for similar cities with older/historic housing stock.”
- Silver Award in the General Purpose Website Category for the Economic Development Website. Judges praised the website’s collaboration and different engagement elements, ease of maneuvering, and “excellent use of local talent.” (The website was designed by Durham Studio and developed by Systems Insight, Inc., both located in Covington). One judge stated: “This is really a website that ‘hits about its weight class’ for this size of city.”
- Bronze Award for Print Brochure Category for Economic Development’s Print Business Guide Brochure/Spanish. One judge said the business guide was a “forward-thinking approach of leadership in recognizing the value of a diverse local economy and the outreach to existing and potential Latine entrepreneurs in their marketplace. With very little capital investment, and one month of in-house effort, this product is an outstanding example of how efficiently and effectively a print brochure can impact a community.”
“Covington’s Economic Development Department is setting the standard of excellence for economic development with these projects,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle. “These awards highlight Covington’s commitment to its community and demonstrates the transformative impact of economic development. It is with great pride that IEDC presents these awards to celebrate their leadership and innovation in the field of economic development."
Kevin Kramer, chair of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards Advisory Committee, agreed.
“These exceptional projects showcase remarkable dedication and ingenuity within the field," said Kramer. “Covington’s Economic Development Department’s contributions will leave a lasting impact and demonstrate its commitment to creating positive change for its residents.”
Each 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. For Covington, the awards continue the momentum of a series of hard-earned recognitions that seemed a long time coming.
“The world is taking note of the hard work of many people over the past decades,” said West. “These awards are shared by every City employee, every department, every elected official, and every local developer who looked at our buildings with vision and a plan to invest in our future.”
# # #