Finalists Announced for EDA Excellence in Economic Development Awards 2006 – Congratulations to the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority

On May 15, 2006, EDA was pleased to announce the twenty Finalists for the EDA Excellence in Economic Development Awards 2006 (Awards 2006). Nominations for Awards 2006 that received the three highest evaluations in their respective category qualified as Finalists.

Sandy K. Baruah, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, will announce the winners of EDA’s Awards 2006 on May 30, 2006. Following the Assistant Secretary’s announcement, the names of the winning nominations will be posted to EDA’s web site.

Awards 2006 will be presented in award ceremonies held in the winners’ respective communities. Members of each winner’s congressional delegation will be invited to join senior EDA officials in the Award presentations.

The Finalists in each category are listed below alphabetically.

In the category of Urban or Suburban Economic Development the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they utilize innovative, market-based strategies to improve urban or suburban economic development. The three Finalists follow:

* Industrial Development Authority, City of Los Angeles, California
Specific Program: Empowerment Zone Bond
Los Angeles, California

* San Antonio Economic Development Foundation
San Antonio, Texas

* Tinley Park Economic Development
Tinley Park, Illinois

In the category of Rural Economic Development the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they utilize innovative, market-based strategies to improve rural economic development results. The three Finalists follow:

* Missouri Biotechnology Association
Specific Program: Rural Biotechnology Initiative Project Number 11-302
Jefferson City, Missouri

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* Ravalli County Economic Development Authority http://www.rceda.org/
Hamilton, Montana

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* Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation
Yuba City, California

In the category of Enhancing Regional Competitiveness the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they enhance regional competitiveness and support long-term development of the regional economy. The three Finalists follow:

* Catalyst Connection
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

* Lane County Community and Economic Development
Specific Program: Community and Economic Development
Eugene, Oregon

* Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA)
Weslaco, Texas

In the category of Economic Adjustment Strategies the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they help communities plan and implement economic adjustment strategies in response to sudden and sever economic dislocations. The three Finalists follow:

* The City of Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado

* Greater Norfolk Economic Development Foundation, Inc.
Norfolk, Nebraska

* Lincoln Trail Area Development District
Specific Program: One Knox Policy Council
Elizabethtown, Kentucky

In the category of Technology-led Economic Development the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they support technology-led economic development and reflect the important role of linking universities and industries and technology transfers. The three Finalists follow:

* North Country Council, Inc. and Grafton County Economic Development Council
Specific Program: Dartmouth Regional Technology Center
Bethlehem, New Hampshire

* North Dakota State University Research and Technology Park, Inc.
Fargo, North Dakota

* University of Florida, Office of Technology Licensing
Specific Program: EDA University Center Program
Gainesville, Florida

In the category of Community and Faith-Based Social Entrepreneurship the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they advance community and faith-based social entrepreneurship in redevelopment strategies for areas of chronic, economic distress. The two Finalists follow:

* Saint Patrick Center
St. Louis, Missouri

* Southeast Tennessee Development District
Specific Program: Southeast Tennessee Religious Heritage Trail
Chattanooga, Tennessee

In the category of Innovation the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they incorporate innovative strategies for maximum results. The three Finalists follow:

* Business Innovation Factory
Providence, Rhode Island

* ConnectKentucky
Specific Program: Prescription for Innovation
Bowling Green, Kentucky

* Paulding County Board of Commissioners
Specific Program: New and competitive solution for urban and economic development as part of the world economy
Dallas, Georgia