09/29/2022

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina’s (EDPNC) Existing Industry Expansions team was recently awarded the 2022 Bronze Excellence Award for business retention and expansion initiatives from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest nonprofit professional association for professional economic developers in the world.

Recognized each year during the IEDC Annual Conference, the awards honor organizations for exemplary economic development marketing campaigns, projects, and programs. Twenty-five award categories honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban and rural communities. The Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world. This year, the IEDC received over 500 submissions from the United States and four additional countries around the world.

“Our Existing Industry Expansions managers work to retain businesses already operating in North Carolina by eliminating barriers to growth and connecting them to local, state and federal resources,” said Bill Slagle, director of Statewide and Northwest Existing Industry Expansions for the EDPNC. “The EDPNC and I are proud of the hard work of our managers and are glad they have received this well-deserved recognition.”

The EDPNC’s Existing Industry Expansions managers provide free assistance to companies that includes helping them navigate state financial and training incentives, sharing updates on COVID-19 recovery programs, referring businesses to alternative supply chain resources, connecting companies to workforce development programs and operational expertise as well as helping companies secure grants to renovate buildings or upgrade manufacturing equipment during an expansion.