EXTON, PA — The Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) is receiving two key 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest organization of its kind serving economic developers across the United States.
CCEDC was awarded for its New Business Champions micro grant program as well as Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology (GETT), serving entrepreneurs and next-gen workforce, respectively, across the region.
“The Chester County Economic Development Council is setting the standard of excellence for economic development with these projects. These awards highlight CCEDC’s commitment to its community and demonstrate the transformative impact of economic development,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. “It is with great pride that IEDC presents these awards to CCEDC, celebrating their leadership and innovation in the field of economic development.”
“This is truly an award that recognizes the efforts of our dedicated CCEDC staff and the many volunteers with whom they have so successfully collaborated to ensure these programs are impactful in our communities,” said Michael Grigalonis, CCEDC President and COO. “Our investors, partners and volunteers go above and beyond in their support of us, and our CCEDC team is deeply committed to delivering programs that exceed expectations as well.”
CCEDC’s New Business Champions micro grant program was a Bronze Winner for Entrepreneurial & Small Business Development. The program connects small business owners from underserved populations with professional services from some of Chester County’s top professional advisors, filling a gap that has existed for decades as Chester County transformed from a farming community to one of the most affluent in the Commonwealth. As of June 2024, $215,602 was awarded to 148 New Business Champions recipients, including 81 minority-owned businesses, 93 woman-owned businesses, 52 businesses owned by individuals who are either first-generation college graduates or who have never attended college, and 19 businesses started by individuals returning to the workforce after an extended absence. The New Business Champions micro grant program is funded in part by the Chester County Workforce Development Board, Chester County ARPA funds and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
Presented by CCEDC and its Innovative Technology Action Group (ITAG), Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology (GETT) was a Silver Winner for Special Purpose Website. GETT’s dynamic new website is designed to attract, educate and engage girls, parents and educators about the STEM resources available. www.gettpa.org supports the Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology Expo, a one-day conference that’s free for girls in grades 4 through 10 when they register to attend the event being held October 26, 2024. GETT began in 2001 as a response to the underrepresentation of young women in the computer and information technology fields and has expanded to serve students from across Southeastern Pennsylvania and surrounding states through the efforts of CCEDC’s Workforce Development Team. Last year, GETT doubled attendance to 1,000 when it moved to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center and increased support from the region’s leading businesses by 30%.
CCEDC was honored at the IEDC 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, CO, September 15-18. 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.
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