06 October 2016

Mesa OED on PR Blitz: Savvy Place-Branding

Blogger Pre-NoteIt's one way to overcome faulty perceptions with savvy place-branding
Office of Economic Development receives international Excellence in Economic Development award
Post Date: 10/04/2016 8:23 AM
[please see blogger notes after the press release] ***
 
The City of Mesa’s Office of Economic Development has been honored by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) with a Silver Excellence in Economic Development Award in the category of Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse for the “Centrica-Santander Consumer USA project: The Fiesta District Redevelopment Renaissance.”
The award was presented at an awards ceremony Sept. 27 during the IEDC Annual Conference held in Cleveland, Ohio.
We are truly honored to be recognized for this award in economic development,” City of Mesa Economic Development Director William J. Jabjiniak said.
 
“This award is an affirmation of our economic development team’s efforts to bring quality redevelopment projects and new jobs to Mesa’s Fiesta District.”
The IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Awards were established to recognize excellence in economic development by international organizations and communities.
For more information on recent developments in Mesa, visit
www.mesaaz.gov/economic.

About the IEDC
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is the world’s largest non-profit membership organization serving economic developers.
www.iedconline.org
 
Office of Economic Development
Contact: Kim Lofgreen
Tel.
480-644-3962 kim.lofgreen@mesaaz.gov  
 
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Santander Consumer Finance is a sub-prime mostly auto finance lender, able to offer higher=cost high-interest loans to new car buyers. 
Most of the jobs are typically low-paying in this call center.
Part of the incentives offered to this company was a payment by the city of $300 for the first 250 jobs hiring on residents of Mesa... an accurate up-to-date figure for the actual number of jobs hired is not stated, although a figure of 970 jobs is frequently used for public relations purposes.
 
Readers might also note that the IEDC is a paid membership organization.
Rather than searching for economic developments of merit, members like the Mesa OED can nominate themselves.
Fees to submit applications ranged from $110 to $165 for IEDC members and $190 to $210 for non-members.
 
 
2016 Timeline
Call For Entries: Feb. 12
Early Bird Deadline: April 8
Final Deadline: May 13
Judging: June
Notifications: July/August
Awards Ceremony: IEDC Annual Conference, Sept. 25-28
 
 
 
 
 
Readers of this blog might also like to know what employees in the OED attended this recent conference and what were their "take-aways" for economic development strategies here in Mesa.
In addition to all 'THE BIG DEALS' did anyone attend this pre-conference training course?
 
 

Training Course: Business Retention and Expansion
Date: October 13 - 14, 2016
Location: Madison, WI
This course is held in partnership with Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA).

» Agenda
» Instructors
» Certification
» Accommodations/Training Location
» Registration

This interactive course presents the core components of a BRE program and why the concerns of local businesses need to be actively addressed. By building an understanding of business visitation techniques and survey methods, practitioners will be able to clearly gauge their community's business climate. Learn the "red flags" that may indicate a company is looking to move elsewhere, and learn how to structure an effective technical assistance program to respond to business concerns. This course helps participants understand how a BRE program relates to attraction, workforce development, small business finance, technology transfer and many other economic development activities.

 
 
Additional links provided by MesaZona blogger
Twitter:  @IEDCtweets

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