GPEC staff hold IEDC award plaques in front of backdrop

IEDC Recognizes Greater Phoenix Economic Council as a Top Economic Development Organization in the U.S.

Published: 09/25/2024
Updated: 09/30/2024

International Economic Development Council awards GPEC with fourth EDO of the Year award and Gold Rank for Annual Report 

PHOENIX (Sept. 25, 2024) – The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) was named a top economic development organization (EDO) in the United States by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in the population over 500,000 category. It is the fourth time in five years that GPEC has received recognition as a top EDO from IEDC. 

“This award from IEDC represents a recognition from esteemed industry peers of the strategic work GPEC has accomplished to create the dynamic growth trajectory the region is on today,” said GPEC President & CEO Chris Camacho. “To be acknowledged year after year further fuels our organization to excel and innovate as a top EDO by collaborating with our communities, private industry investors and economic development leaders across Greater Phoenix to create a prolific future for the region.” 

In addition to the distinction of Top EDO, GPEC’s fiscal-year 2023 Annual Report was awarded Gold Rank in IEDC’s Annual Report category, recognizing the report’s impactful transition to an engaging digital format. 

IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world. The Top EDO award recognizes major business expansions in the region, including world-class industry leaders such as Amkor Technology which brings over 800 jobs and $715M in capital expenditures with its semiconductor testing and packaging facility locating to Peoria, Ariz. Other notable locates include ASM Lithography, DSV, LG Energy Solution, Peckham, Pentagon Technologies, Republic Services and Sysco. 

“To complement our high level of excellence in project and operational execution, GPEC is hyper-focused on programming that enhances the awareness of the region’s capacity both domestically and internationally while expanding opportunities for startups and innovative companies implementing novel ideas,” said Maureen Howell, GPEC’s chief operating officer. “We’re proud and honored to have our regional impact and depth and quality of work recognized by IEDC.”  

Additional GPEC projects and achievements acknowledged by the top EDO award include: 

  • An increased focus on delegations both inbound and outbound, including two trips to Taiwan with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Sen. Mark Kelly. 
  • GPEC’s biannual Washington D.C. mission where over 50 attendees including board members, mayors, county officials, business executives and regional stakeholders met with cabinet-level officials, heads of national organizations, ambassadors and members of Congress to advocate for the region. 
  • A GPEC-led consortium of 25 public and private partners received an EDA Tech Hubs Strategy Development Grant to support medical device manufacturing growth in the region. 
  • Further support of the entrepreneur ecosystem through an official partnership with StartupAZ, which launched a regional Startup Ecosystem Dashboard, and MOU with Startup Island TAIWAN. 
  • Expanding the EDO’s sphere of influence beyond traditional business attraction through a focus on the region’s arts and culture ecosystem by hosting three hybrid art exhibits, publishing an op-ed alongside Arizona Citizens for the Arts, and Camacho serving as Honorary Chair of Artlink’s Art d’Core Gala. 
  • The organization became a resource hub for federal initiatives including the CHIPS Act and IRA by hosting six webinars with relevant partners and publishing a webpage outlining CHIPS Act updates and funding rounds. 

About Greater Phoenix Economic Council
The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), globally recognized as a top economic development organization (EDO), works to attract and grow quality businesses and advocate for the competitiveness of Greater Phoenix. A data-driven regional?EDO, GPEC works with 22 member communities, Maricopa and Pinal counties and more than 220 private investors to accomplish its mission and serve as a strategic partner to companies across the world as they expand or relocate to Greater Phoenix. Over the past 35 years, GPEC has fueled the regional economy by helping over 1,000 companies, creating more than 189,000 jobs and more than $69.4 billion in capital investment. Greater Phoenix is in a relentless pursuit of innovative and entrepreneurial-focused companies looking to thrive and scale in a vibrant, dynamic region. There is an undeniable spirit about Greater Phoenix; one rooted in strength, collaboration and resilience. Greater Phoenix is Greater Together. For more information about GPEC and how we can assist your businesses, visit www.gpec.org.

About IEDC
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 we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Learn more at iedconline.org.