Entrepreneurship Initiative honored for creating positive change in communities
The Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) recently received an Excellence in Economic Development Award for its Entrepreneurship Initiative from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). These awards annually recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials and the year’s most influential leaders. The award honors organizations and individuals in 28 categories for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban and rural communities. SWIF’s award represented the Entrepreneurship category for communities with populations of 200,000 to 500,000 and was presented at an awards ceremony Sept. 28 during the IEDC Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio.
Exc
ellence in Economic Development Award presented in Columbus Ohio to Southwest Initiative Foundation Program Specialist Jackie Turner-Lovsness (center) with Chairman of the IEDC Board of Directors William Best, FM, (left) and Chairman of the IEDC Awards Task Force Timothy Solomon, CEcD (right).
“We recognize the Southwest Initiative Foundation for providing successful strategies to promote new paradigms in economic development in this period of global recovery,” said William Best, IEDC chair. “Our awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in communities. The Southwest Initiative Foundation is showing that they are at the forefront of the economic development profession and are using innovative and effective practices that can be replicated in other communities.”
SWIF’s Entrepreneurship Initiative was created in 2006. With the growth of an existing Microenterprise Loan Program, SWIF recognized the needs of entrepreneurs in its 18-county service area. To begin, SWIF hosted the first Entrepreneurship Network Academy in southwest Minnesota. Over 70 participants, including resource providers, educators, lenders, EDAs and entrepreneurs attended. The goals of the Entrepreneurship Initiative to facilitate and support regional resources to assist and invest in entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial ventures are met by providing education, technical assistance, youth entrepreneurship programs, access to capital through gap and not-traditional financing, networking and the Center of Rural Entrepreneurship (CORE) www.swmncore.com.
The IEDC is the premier membership organization dedicated to helping economic development professionals create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve the quality of life in their regions. Serving more than 4,500 members, IEDC represents the largest network of economic development professionals in the world. IEDC provides a diverse range of services, including conferences, certification, professional development, publications, research, advisory services and legislative tracking. Learn more at www.iedconline.org.
