Prince William County Wins IEDC Awards for Web Design and IGNITE Entrepreneurship Program

Prince William County Department of Economic Development (PWCDED) programs and marketing were recognized at this year’s International Economic Development Council (IEDC) 2022 Excellence Awards, which were announced earlier today at the organization’s annual conference in Oklahoma City.  
 
IEDC is the largest nonprofit association for professional economic developers in the world, and these awards recognize the world's best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year's most influential leaders. Twenty-five award categories honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities.  

“These awards reflect the dedication, persistence, and imagination of our entire team,” said Christina Winn, executive director at PWCDED. "The IGNITE program successfully brands Prince William County as a destination for innovative and high-growth companies working on scaling their businesses, capturing talent, and finding commercial footing. We’re excited to open applications for the next round of IGNITE grants next month.” 

In addition to the awards, PWCDED was also recognized as one of 70 economic development organizations designated by IEDC as an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO).  

For the population size between 200,000 and 500,000, PWCDED won the following awards for Economic Excellence:

• BRONZE: The IGNITE Program — Entrepreneurship
• BRONZE: PWCDED.org — General Purpose Website 

Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world, following a nomination process held earlier this year. 

"Congratulations to our Department of Economic Development for developing and managing  award-winning programs and creating a quality digital presence to promote our business-forward initiatives,” said Ann B. Wheeler, Chair, Prince William Board of County Supervisors. “PWCDED continues to increase our community’s strategic brand awareness at regional and national levels."

Previous IEDC awards include: 

• 2021 – Gold: Building Momentum Channel
• 2021 – Silver: ELEVATE: Building Business and Careers
• 2021 – Silver: Catch the Innovation
• 2021 – Bronze: Capital Investment & Innovation Grant
• 2017 – Gold: Prince William Science Accelerator
• 2014 – Bronze: Potomac Communities Brochure
• 2003 – Honorable Mention: Program
• 2002 – Honorable Mention: Program