On May 15, 2007, EDA was pleased to announce, the twenty-two finalists for the EDA Excellence in Economic Development Awards 2007 (Awards 2007). Nominations for Awards 2007 that received the three highest evaluations in their respective category qualified as finalists.

The winners of EDA's Awards 2007 was announced on May 30, 2007.  Awards 2007 were presented in ceremonies held in the winners' respective communities. Members of each winner's congressional delegation were invited to join senior Department of Commerce officials in the award presentations.

The finalists in each category are listed below alphabetically.

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 three finalists follow:

Ohio State University Endeavor Center Piketon, Ohio

PUL Alliance Specific Program: Wellsprings Project Pontotoc, Mississippi

Walla Walla Community College Specific Program: Center for Enology and Viticulture Walla Walla, Washington

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 development. The three finalists follow:

ACCION Texas, Inc San Antonio, Texas

Gateway Park, LLC Specific Program: Gateway Park Worcester, Massachusetts

City of Helena, Montana Specific Program: Great Northern Town Center Helena, Montana

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 three Finalists follow:

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Specific Program: S&K Electronics Pablo, Montana

KCSourceLink Kansas City, Missouri

Ravalli County Economic Development Authority Hamilton, Montana

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 three finalists are:

Louisiana Business and Technology Center Specific Program: Incubator On Wheels Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Regional Planning Commission of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana

Western Piedmont Council of Governments Specific Program: Future Forward Economic Alliance Hickory, North Carolina

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.

EDA announces that in this category four nominations qualified as finalists because two pairs each received a tied score. The four Technology-led finalists follow:

BioEnterprise Cleveland, Ohio

Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition Pensacola, Florida

Maine Technology Institute Gardiner, Maine

Sandia Science and Technology Park Albuquerque, New Mexico

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 three Finalists follow:

Community Economic Development Clinic Creighton University Law School Omaha, Nebraska

The Flagship Enterprise Center Anderson, Indiana

Pyramid Community Development Corporation Houston, Texas

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

Auburn University Technical Assistance Center EDA University Center Auburn University, Alabama

The New York City Department of Small Business Services Specific Program: NYC Business Solutions New York, New York

Paulding County Board of Commissioners Specific Program: Implementation of a unique internationally competitive model for economic and self-sustainable development as part of the global economy Dallas, Georgia