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Columbus, OH – Columbus 2020 was recognized at the International Economic Development Council’s (IEDC) Annual Conference, named a gold winner for creating the most jobs of any organization of its size in the past 12 months, and earning a silver medal in the category for “Most Jobs Announced Overall,” honoring top performers of any size. The organization also received a Bronze Excellence in Economic Development Award for its 2012 paid advertising campaign.
The awards related to job creation were a result of Atlas Advertising’s High Performance Economic Development Benchmarking Survey, based on self-reported results over a one-year period for website visits, inquiries received, jobs announced and capital investment announced in their communities. Columbus 2020 reported the creation of 13,848 jobs – the most jobs for any organization in the 1 million to 2.5 million in population category.
“We’re honored to be recognized among our economic development peers for job creation, which is such a tangible benchmark of success in the industry,” said Kenny McDonald, chief economic officer, Columbus 2020. “The Columbus Region also recently surpassed the 50,000th new job mark on the quest toward 150,000 net new jobs by 2020. This award is a reminder that we are on the right path, but still have work to do.”
Additionally, Columbus 2020 received a Bronze Excellence in Economic Development Award for its 2012 paid advertising campaign for communities with populations greater than 500,000. Targeting business leaders across the United States, placements included a mix of animated static and animated banners, interactive units including live feeds and video, and mobile units on national news sites and more than 50 local news sites in targeted markets. The campaign exceeded all goal metrics, surpassing purchased impressions, yielding a click-through rate well above the benchmark for its category, and tripling web traffic.
“The Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize Columbus 2020 as being one of the leading organizations in the industry for innovation, creativity and successful strategies,” said IEDC chair, Paul Krutko. “These awards are meant to honor the organizations and individuals who are dedicated to making a positive change in their communities. This organization uses creative solutions and inventive ideas, and offers other regions a wonderful example to learn and benefit from. The award represents an acknowledgment and appreciation for Columbus 2020’s dedication to continuous growth within itself, as well as improving the industry overall.”
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About the High Performance Economic Development Awards
The High Performance Economic Development Awards recognize top performing economic development organizations for the impact they have on their communities, as measured by jobs and capital investment announced. Participating communities are ranked by their self-reported responses to Atlas’ Benchmarking Survey. Each participating community receives their results benchmarked against communities of similar size. Entries are accepted year round, and results are tabulated in September of every year. To enter your community, please visit: http://www.atlas-advertising.com/Community-Benchmarking-Study.aspx.
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,000 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. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. www.iedconline.org.
About Columbus 2020
Columbus 2020 is a public-private partnership that leverages the strengths of the Columbus Region’s talented workforce, small and large businesses, research and academic institutions, and international connections to ignite economic growth and build a healthier, more sustainable future for Central Ohio. The initiative grows our economy by ensuring that our existing companies are growing and thriving, that the world’s leading companies are attracted to the 11-county region, that innovations are cultivated and commercialized, and that our civic infrastructure is continually improving to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving world economy. For more information, visit ColumbusRegion.com.
Contact:
Kenny McDonald
614-225-6063