Philadelphia, PA (USA) – October 6, 2013 – Ascension (LA) Economic Development Corp. has been named the gold medal winner in the Most Capital Investment Announced category for economic development organizations. As part of Atlas Advertising’s High Performance Economic Development Benchmarking Survey, Ascension (LA) Economic Development Corp. reported $3.5 billion in capital invested over the past 12 months.
“We are honored that Atlas Advertising has recognized our business development achievements. AEDC’s success is attributed to strong community partnerships and a continued focus on existing industry relationships as well as business recruitment efforts,” said Mike Eades, President and CEO of AEDC.
AEDC has focused on promoting the unique existing infrastructure in Ascension Parish. Our location along the Mississippi River, rail and interstate access, natural gas availability and abundant feedstock chemicals makes Ascension an ideal location for the chemical industry. We also have a formalized program where we call on our industry executives throughout the year. These face-to-face meetings allow us to learn about each company’s plans for the future and we are able put together a creative solution to help them achieve their goals.
The High Performance Economic Development Awards were presented by Atlas Advertising at the International Economic Development Council’s Annual Conference to communities in six population categories, including: Less than 25,000 in population, 25,001 to 100,000 in population, 100,001 to 250,000 in population, 250,001 to 1,000,000 in population, 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 in population, and over 2,500,000 in population.
Atlas Advertising also recognized the top performers, regardless of size, in the following categories: Most Website Visits, Most Conversations/Inquiries, Most Jobs Announced, Most Capital Investment Announced.
“The economic development organizations we recognized and honored are the best of the best in their category,” said Ben Wright, CEO of Atlas Advertising. “As such, they are the models for our industry.”
The High Performance Economic Development winners were selected based on their self-reported results over a one-year period for website visits, inquiries received, jobs announced and capital investment announced in their communities. Atlas analysts then tabulated the numbers for all respondents to rank the highest performers. Atlas Advertising relies on the respondents for data accuracy and does not independently verify the results.
For a full list of gold, silver and bronze winners in High Performance Economic Development Awards, visit: http://www.atlas-advertising.com
About Ascension (LA) Economic Development Corp.
The Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) was formed for the expressed purposes of diversifying the economy, increasing the tax base and creating quality, permanent jobs by encouraging the expansion of existing enterprises in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, the attraction of new enterprises and to work hand in hand with elected and appointed leaders to maintain and improve the business climate in the Parish. AEDC was created by the Ascension Chamber of Commerce, the City of Gonzales and the Parish of Ascension. Incorporated in the State of Louisiana on June 01 2005 under the provisions of Chapter 27, Part I of Title 35 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 as amended and federally chartered under I.R.S. Code 501 (C) (6), AEDC is a private nonprofit corporation pursuant to the Louisiana Nonprofit Corporation Law, Chapter 2 of Title 12 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes as amended. AEDC is governed by a ten (10) member Board of Directors. These ten members serve without compensation and are appointed for three (3) year terms by the following entities: The Ascension Chamber of Commerce: Four Members; the Ascension Parish Council: Two Voting Members & Two Non-Voting Members; the Ascension Parish President: One Voting Member; and, the City of Gonzales Council: One Non-Voting Member. www.ascensionedc.com
About the High Performance Economic Development Awards
The High Performance Economic Development Awards recognize top performing economic development organizations for the impact they have on their communities, as measured by jobs and capital investment announced. Participating communities are ranked by their self-reported responses to Atlas’ Benchmarking Survey. Each participating community receives their results benchmarked against communities of similar size. Entries are accepted year round, and results are tabulated in September of every year. To enter your community, please visit: http://www.atlas-advertising.com/Community-Benchmarking-Study.aspx
About Atlas Advertising
Atlas Advertising is a niche economic development marketing agency that serves more than 80 different economic development clients in 43+ states and 6 countries. Founded in 2001, Atlas Advertising helps economic developers reach national and international prospects and site selection audiences. Atlas Advertising delivers branding, website development, mapping, research and creative services, by a staff experienced in economic development. Unlike firms with little or no economic development experience, Atlas Advertising uses a proven mix of economic development marketing tactics that generate interest from site selection audiences. Atlas Advertising’s economic development campaigns have been named among the best in the country by IEDC and Angelou Economics, and have won awards regionally from business-to-business marketing organizations.