![Tulare County EDC President Paul Saldana](http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/EDC-paul_saldana-240x300.jpg)
President Paul Saldana
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) announced on June 2nd that the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has once again been recognized as one of 41 economic development organizations accredited by IEDC as an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO). Originally accredited in 2001, the organization was reaccredited by IEDC following three successful years of activity as an AEDO member.
“The Tulare County EDC displays the professionalism, commitment and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor”, said IEDC President and CEO Jeff Finkle.
The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer review process that measures economic development organizations against commonly held standards in the profession. The program consists of two phases: a documentation review and an onsite visit. Each phase is designed to evaluate information about the structure, organization, funding, program and staff of the candidate economic development organization.
Maintenance of the AEDO status is required every three years and is accomplished through documentation submission and onsite visits by a team of the AEDO subcommittee. The Site Visit Team, consisting of Brett Doney, president and CEO of the Great Falls (MT) Development Authority, and Dan Henderson, director of real estate & economic development for the town of Gilbert, Arizona, conducted a three-day visit and assessment of the EDC May 7-9.
In making their unconditional recommendation for reaccreditation, the team stated that the EDC “exemplifies the AEDO standard and the organization not only follows best practices but develops new best practices for other agencies and organizations to follow.” The team further commented that the EDC developed an advertisement with the tagline “California’s Most Innovative Economic Development Organization” and “the AEDO Review Team believes the organization has earned the right to say so.”
“Achieving reaccreditation for the EDC was a major goal of the EDC Board of Directors this year and is a testament to their leadership, commitment and focus of creating jobs for our residents through the recruitment of new businesses to our communities” said EDC Board Chairman Nick Seals.
EDC Board Vice Chairman Craig Vejvoda added that, “Earning the AEDO accreditation tells the community and prospects that the EDC attained a measure of excellence assuring that their trust is well placed and their business is in good hands.”
The AEDO status will remain in effect until May 31, 2017. The formal presentation of the AEDO designation will be made at the August 27th annual meeting of the EDC Board of Directors.
Formed in 1983 by elected officials from throughout Tulare County, the EDC’s mission and focus is to create new jobs through the creation and support of businesses and industry on behalf of the communities in Tulare County. The EDC has assisted hundreds of businesses that have brought thousands of jobs to Tulare County communities during the EDC’s 31-year history.
The International Economic Development Council is the largest membership association serving economic and community development professionals in the world. With over 4,400 members nationwide and abroad, IEDC offers the economic development profession one source for information and professional development, one voice for the profession and one force for advocacy.