The nominations for Awards 2004 that received the three highest evaluations in their respective category qualified as Finalists. The Finalists in each category are listed below alphabetically.

In the category of Urban or Suburban Economic Development the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they utilize innovative, market-based strategies to improve urban or suburban economic. The Finalists are the following:

City of San Diego Community Economic Development
Specific Program: Business Finance Section San Diego, California

Community First Fund Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Montgomery County Maryland Specific Program: Downtown Silver Spring Rockville, Maryland

In the category of Rural Economic Development the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they utilize innovative, market-based strategies to improve rural economic development results. The Finalists are the following:

Utah State University Innovation Campus
Specific Program: Utah State University Innovation Campus Logan, UT

City of Lincoln, Alabama Specific Program: Water infrastructure improvements for Honda Lincoln, AL

Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County Wytheville, VA

In the category of Enhancing Regional Competitiveness the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they enhance regional competitiveness and support long-term development of the regional economy. The Finalists are the following:

Tennessee Valley Corridor, Inc.
Knoxville, TN

Research Triangle Regional Partnership Raleigh, NC

Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber Specific Program: Aero Park: Northeast Ohio's Gateway to the World Warren, OH

In the category of Economic Adjustment Strategies the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they help communities plan and implement economic adjustment strategies in response to sudden and sever economic dislocations. The Finalists are the following:

Team Taylor County Industrial Development Corporation
Campbellsville, KY

Depot Redevelopment Corporation of Memphis and Shelby County Memphis, TN

PPEP Microbusiness and Housing Development Corporation Specific Program: Business Finance Section Tucson, AZ

In the category of Technology-led Economic Development the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they support technology-led economic development and reflect the important role of linking universities and industries and technology transfers. The Finalists are the following:

Center for Economic Growth and Albany NanoTech
Specific Program: Capital Region Semiconductor Initiative Albany, NY

Advanced Technology Development Center Atlanta, GA

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Specific Program: Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center Blacksburg, VA

In the category of Community and Faith-Based Social Entrepreneurship the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they advance community and faith-based social entrepreneurship in redevelopment strategies for areas of chronic, economic distress. The Finalists are the following:

Greyston Foundation
Yonkers, NY

Goodwill Industries of South Florida, Inc. Miami, FL

Fruitvale Development Corporation and City of Oakland, CA Oakland, CA

In the category of Innovation the nominations are evaluated to determine how effectively they incorporate innovative strategies for maximum results. The Finalists are the following:

Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
Specific Program: Maryland Venture Fund Baltimore, MD

LaGuardia Community College, CUNY Long Island City, NY

CITE: Center for Information Technology Enterprise Bowling Green, KY