On May 30, 2008, EDA proudly congratulated the eight winners of EDA's Excellence in Economic Development Awards 2008.

EDA's annual competition is open to nonprofit organizations, local, state and regional government entities, universities and colleges. The winning nominations were evaluated for this honor by a distinguished panel of economic development experts.

The 2008 winners are provided below by category for your information:

Excellence in Rural Economic Development
Jackson County Development Council, Inc. Specific program: Green Circle BioEnergy, Inc., (Project "PELLET") Marianna, Florida

Excellence in Urban or Suburban Economic Development East Baltimore Development, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland

Excellence in Enhancing Regional Competitiveness City of Lima, Ohio Lima, Ohio

Excellence in Economic Adjustment Strategies City of Duluth Economic Development Authority Specific Program: Creation of an aeronautical manufacturing cluster Duluth, Minnesota

Excellence in Technology-led Economic Development Ben Franklin Technology Partners Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Excellence in Community and Faith-Based Social Entrepreneurship Desert Alliance for Community Empowerment Coachella, California

Excellence in Innovation in Economic Development Bladen's Bloomin' Agri-Industrial, Inc. Elizabethtown, North Carolina

Excellence in Historic Preservation-led Strategies to Enhance Economic Development Silver City MainStreet Project Silver City, New Mexico