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Columbus, OH – Columbus 2020, the economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus Region, was recognized at the International Economic Development Council’s (IEDC) Annual Conference, winning a gold award for its “One of US” marketing campaign and a silver award for its Performance Dashboard, both in the category of “General Purpose Print Promotion.”
The honors were presented at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 27, during the IEDC Annual Conference, which was held in Cleveland, OH.
The IEDC’s Promotional Award category was created to showcase the successful promotional work of economic development organizations around the world. The category was judged on the strength of showcasing the organization’s goal/mission, effectiveness of the promotion, innovation/creativity, quality and completeness of information, and contribution to the economic development profession.
The gold “General Purpose Print Promotion” award was given to Columbus 2020 for its successful “One of US” marketing campaign, a collaborative marketing effort created to increase awareness about the Columbus Region’s diverse economy and how it is driven by national and global brands. “One of US” showcases the world-class organizations, fantastic talent and top-level resources that call the Columbus Region home and highlights how these organizations collaborate to ensure the Columbus Region’s growth and prosperity.
The campaign welcomes millions of visitors via installations at John Glenn Columbus International Airport and is integrated throughout various facets of Columbus 2020’s overall marketing plan, including advertising placements, collateral and digital marketing executions. The “One of US” website can be viewed here: columbusregion.com/oneofus.
The silver “General Purpose Print Promotion” award honors Columbus 2020 for its Performance Dashboard. The Performance Dashboard provides a snapshot of Columbus Region economic data and Columbus 2020’s progress against its 10 year goals. By bringing data points previously housed in several locations together onto a single piece, the Performance Dashboard builds excitement and energy around the Columbus Region’s economic momentum among current and prospective investors, community stakeholders, and public, private and academic partners. The dashboard is updated monthly and the most recent version can be downloaded here: go.columbusregion.com/Dashboard.
“We recognize the success of Columbus 2020 with The Excellence in Economic Development Awards,” said Barry Matherly, CEcD FM and IEDC chair. “These awards are meant to honor and acknowledge organizations and individuals who are dedicated to making a positive change in their communities. Columbus 2020 is a leading economic development organization with innovative and creative strategies that continue to influence not only their region but also the industry as a whole.”
Columbus 2020 has been recognized at past IEDC Annual Conferences. In 2014, Columbus 2020 won six IEDC marketing awards, including one gold, two silvers and three bronze, and in 2012 took home a bronze.
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About the Excellence in Economic Development Awards
IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards program distinguishes the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, as well as the year’s most influential leaders. The awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban and rural communities. Winners are recognized at the 2016 Annual Conference in Cleveland, Ohio September 25-28.
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.