Rural LISC Receives 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award from the International Economic Development Council

IEDC’s annual Excellence Awards honor the economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the profession

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Washington, DC, August 28, 2024 – Rural LISC received a 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The award was bestowed specifically for its work in the Regional or Cross-Border Partnership category impacting population sizes with less than 25,000 residents. LISC’s Vice President and Rural LISC Director Nadia Villagrán will accept the award at the IEDC 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, CO, September 15-18.

In 2022, Rural LISC received IEDC Excellence in Economic Development awards in the Multimedia/Video Promotion and Print Brochure categories.

"Rural LISC is setting the standard of excellence for rural economic development with its ‘T.L.L. Temple East Texas Infusion of Collaborative Community & Economic Development’ project. This award highlights Rural LISC’s commitment to rural America and the power of partnerships to accelerate local initiatives,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. “It is with great pride that IEDC presents this award to Rural LISC, celebrating their leadership and innovation in the field of economic development."

Rural LISC is being recognized for a digital equity program spanning two years, funded by T.L.L. Temple Foundation that is transforming the way seven libraries in six Deep East Texas counties serve their communities – and view their leadership roles as community anchors. The project resulted in new technology deployments including always-on WiFi, equipment installations to support new applications like telehealth, network upgrades to future-proof fiber optic, and new technology to enhance patron services. The program emphasized peer-to-peer relationship development among library directors, and resulted in joint funding proposals, among other collaborative initiatives.

“Philanthropies focused on rural development must move beyond only funding projects to investing in the capacity of the systems and organizations that execute the projects,” said Wynn Rosser, President & CEO of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. “We appreciate that this recognition from IEDC will elevate the power of multi stakeholder collaboration of local practitioners, intermediaries, philanthropy and the public sector working together to enable rural transformation.”

Every year IEDC looks specifically for economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development. The library initiative is deepening regional engagement to ensure digital opportunity is available to everyone in East Texas.

“Rural LISC is proud to build on the libraries-as-digital-connectors program by partnering with the East Texas and Deep East Texas Council of Governments to host an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow who will help the region access the more than $1B in federal funding for broadband in Texas,” said Nadia Villagrán, LISC Vice President and Rural LISC Director. “We believe investing in the processes that foster collaborations across borders, sectors and institutions results in a virtuous cycle of opportunity and growth. It’s an honor to be invited to play a role in the region’s ongoing success.”

About Rural LISC

Launched in 1995, Rural LISC is the rural component of Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), the largest community development support organization in the country. Through a partnership base of over 150 organizations across all 50 states and 3 U.S. territories, Rural LISC provides a wide range of services, including capacity-building grants and loans, training, technical assistance and public policy advocacy. To date, Rural LISC has leveraged nearly $3.3 billion from public and private sources to produce more than 35,000 affordable homes and apartments, over 4 million square feet of commercial and community space, including 20 early childhood care centers, and has provided technical assistance to support more than 1,000 businesses, resulting in over 20,000 jobs supported and/or retained. Rural LISC also supports nearly 20 rural-based Financial Opportunity Centers providing financial counseling, education, training and other employment services to thousands of residents. Rural LISC is committed to ensuring equity and investment in rural America. Learn more at www.lisc.org/rural. 

Contact: Tiffany Taylor-Minor

ttaylorminor@lisc.org

804-836-6390

About the International Economic Development Council

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,300 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth, and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members engage in the full range of economic development practices. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. When IEDC succeeds, its members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Learn more at www.iedconline.org today!

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