Santa Rosa County wins economic development awards

The Santa Rosa County Economic Development Office has received three Excellence in Economic Development Awards for 2017 from the International Economic Development Council.

The EDO received a gold award for their aviation industry brochure in the category of special purpose print brochure.The brochure details Santa Rosa County's advantages to companies in the aviation, aerospace, and related industries. Key sections cover the area's advantages in terms of workforce, including retired military personnel, transportation and available sites.

The office also won a silver award for its Career Pathways website, a project in the category of special purpose website. SantaRosaCareerPathways.com is designed to provide students and their families guidance on local career opportunities, including the expected wages, and the public-school career academies, training opportunities, and degree programs. This website is used by middle and high schools, technical schools and post-secondary schools to create a highly competitive and educated workforce.

Finishing out the set, the EDO took home a bronze award also in the category of special purpose website, for SantaRosaAviation.com, a micro-site showcasing the county's advantages to companies in the aviation, aerospace, and related industries.

"On behalf of the IEDC board of directors and Excellence in Economic Development Awards advisory committee, congratulations to the Santa Rosa Economic Development Office. Not only did they work to provide a necessary service to their community; but also, their participation in the awards program sheds light on their stellar projects which other communities can now use as a benchmark," said Michael Langley, CEO of Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul and 2017 IEDC board chair.

The Santa Rosa Economic Development Office serves businesses that want to expand their existing operations as well as out-of-state businesses wanting to relocate to the county.

The EDO works to attract industries and create jobs through development, project financing, business support and marketing activities.

Also, they develop resources that industries demand and foster entrepreneurship among ambitious and innovative residents.

The International Economic Development Council is a non-profit organization with more than 5,000 members, serving economic developers.

From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC's members are engaged in the full range of economic development experience.

For more information, visit www.iedcONLINE.org.

FYI

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa County wins economic development awards