IEDC Celebrates Economic Development Week from May 8-14

Washington, DC, February 16, 2016 --(PR.com)-- The year 2016 marks the International Economic Development Council’s (IEDC) 90th anniversary. IEDC became the world’s foremost membership organization for economic developers when it was formed on May 8, 2001, by a merger of the American Economic Development Council (AEDC), founded in 1926, and the Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED), founded in 1967.

To celebrate this milestone anniversary, IEDC has named 2016 the Year of the Economic Developer. It has also named the week of May 8-14 as Economic Development Week, in correspondence with the dates of the merger.

“This anniversary is not only about the history of IEDC,” IEDC Board Chair Barry Matherly, CEcD, FM, said. “It’s about the incredible, albeit sometimes thankless, work economic developers do to keep jobs plentiful and to maintain a high quality of life. That is but one reason why this anniversary is reserved for celebrating economic developers.”

Economic Development Week will consist of online activities designed to highlight the importance of economic development and recognize the efforts of economic development professionals in all corners of the world.

“Economic Development Week is part of a series created to celebrate IEDC’s 90th Anniversary.The primary purpose of Economic Development Week is to celebrate both the achievements of economic developers and the industry’s impact on cities, towns and the world at large,” IEDC CEO and President Jeffrey Finkle, CEcD, said.

As part of the 90th anniversary, IEDC has also launched “52 Weeks of Economic Developers,” a weekly campaign of stories featured in IEDC’s digital newsletters, ED Now and IEDC News. The stories feature interviews with members, past chairs and former staff members.

The celebrations will culminate in a reception at IEDC’s annual conference in Cleveland, Ohio. The conference will be taking place from September 25-28, and will allow economic developers from all over the country to celebrate their accomplishments together in one place.

As part of the 90th anniversary, IEDC has asked its members to do what they can to bring Economic Development Week to their community. These activities include:

Hosting local events

Writing blog posts and newsletter articles on economic development

Getting a resolution passed

Sending out a press release to constituents

Connecting with one another on social media with the hashtag #YearofEconDev

Resources and suggestions about getting involved in Economic Development Week, including a Celebration Guide, can be found at www.iedconline.org/90years.

About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,700 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities, by creating, retaining and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members are engaged in the full range of economic development experience. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in a wide variety of settings including local, state, provincial and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities and a variety of other institutions. IEDC’s members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve the quality of life in their regions. www.iedcONLINE.org.