Washington, DC – The City of Norfolk Department of Economic Development won a Silver Rank for Norfolk Works, a project in the category of Talent Development and Retention of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The honor was presented at an awards ceremony during the IEDC Annual Conference, which concluded last week.
“Norfolk Works is honored to receive this international recognition for its efforts to develop and retain the diverse talent in the City of Norfolk.” Said Terry Richards, coordinator of Norfolk Works. “As Norfolk Works is a Career Access Network and strong partner of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, Tidewater Community College, and the many organizations that are part of the Norfolk Workforce Investment Network, we believe this recognition also highlights the collective impact the workforce community is making right here in Norfolk.”
IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. 25 award categories honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers, following a nomination process held earlier this year. IEDC received over 500 submissions from 4 countries.
Norfolk Works has been an integral part of the City of Norfolk’s Economic Development portfolio since December of 2016. It has become the bellwether of workforce development programs for the region and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since its launch, it’s focus and mission has been to have a meaningful impact on Norfolk residents, especially those residents from historically underrepresented communities. Norfolk Works continues to focus on coordinating the variety of local talent sources to ensure new and expanding businesses are supplied with the diverse candidates they need to further grow and invest in Norfolk.
The primary components of Norfolk Works are its Community Career Center, Business Services, and the Norfolk Workforce Investment Network (WIN). Ultimately, Norfolk Works is designed to align economic and workforce development efforts, champion the recruitment of diverse Norfolk talent to support business attraction, retention and expansion, and collaborate with its regional workforce partners to help Norfolk citizens prepare for and connect to in-demand employment opportunities.
“The winners of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development awards represent the best of economic development and exemplify the leadership that our profession strives for every day,” said 2021 IEDC Board Chair and Invest Buffalo Niagara, President, and CEO Tom Kucharski. “We’re honored to recognize the more than 100 communities whose marketing submissions, projects, and partnerships have improved regional quality of life.”
We’re incredibly honored to recognize the outstanding organizations that received this year’s Excellence Awards. This year, more than ever, has presented opportunities to innovate, impact, and progress the cities, neighborhoods, and communities around us. Each of this year’s recipients represents the best of the economic development profession and exemplifies the ingenuity for fellow economic developers to aspire to in the years to come.
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 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 engage in the full range of economic development experiences. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various 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. Learn more at iedconline.org.
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