Covington, KY – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) presented BE NKY with a Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award for NKY Boost, in the category of Business Retention & Expansion – Program of Three Years or More for communities with populations of 200,000 – 500,000.
BE NKY was honored at an awards ceremony on Monday, October 5, during the IEDC Annual Conference, which was held October 4 – 7, in Anchorage, Alaska.
“From localized community projects, to large scale endeavors, economic development efforts have played a vital role in the global economy,” said JoAnn Crary, CEcD, Chair of the International Economic Development Council and President of Saginaw Future Inc. “As we address new and longstanding challenges, these efforts continue to take on even greater importance. The award serves as a salute to pacesetting organizations like the BE NKY for leading the charge.”
NKY Boost is the enhanced Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program of BE NKY, representing Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky as part of the Cincinnati metropolitan statistical area (MSA). NKY Boost is a free resource connecting Northern Kentucky primary industries with solutions to sustain their current operations and accelerate their growth, while also growing jobs in the local economy.
“BE NKY is committed to making our region the best place for companies to do business,” said Boone County Judge Executive Gary Moore, Chairman of BE NKY. “NKY Boost is our region’s ‘one-stop shop’ for existing primary industry companies to resolve challenges. In addition to expediting expansions, companies relied on NKY Boost to facilitate solutions with respect to transportation, infrastructure and workforce.”
“Workforce development and training are significant needs that are being addressed through NKY Boost,” added Wade Williams, Senior Vice President, Business Development at BE NKY. “In 2014, BE NKY secured $600,000 in direct grants for employers which provided training for more than 1,000 employees in the region.”
BE NKY has met with over 300 companies since 2012, collecting quantitative and qualitative data to ensure regional businesses have the support they need to grow. In 2014, the NKY Boost program assisted with 15 expansion projects in Northern Kentucky, creating 1,433 new jobs and $165M in capital investment. Led by Williams and NKY Boost Manager Kevin Donnelly, BE NKY is on pace for 100 company visits in 2015.
“The NKY Boost initiative is led by BE NKY’s BR&E Committee, Wade Williams and Kevin Donnelly,” said Dan Tobergte, President and CEO of BE NKY. “I congratulate them on this award and thank them for their hard work. Collectively they set aggressive goals and are making Northern Kentucky a better place to do business. The majority of new jobs created in our region are from our existing companies, we’re doing everything we can to ensure their growth and success.”
Duke Energy, a long-standing supporter of economic development in Northern Kentucky, provided the start-up funding to launch NKY Boost.
Recipients of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards demonstrate to an experienced panel of judges that they are at the forefront of the economic development profession. They are recognized as the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. These awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
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About BE NKY
Founded in 1987, the BE NKY Growth Partnership (BE NKY) serves as the primary economic development marketing agency for Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties in Northern Kentucky. Since 1987, 600 companies have located or expanded in Northern Kentucky accounting for the creation of 51,600 new primary jobs for a total of 120,800 jobs created. These jobs have generated an economic impact of $25B. New and expanding companies have accounted for $6.9B in capital investment. BE NKY is a key partner in Vision 2015, a 10-year strategic plan for growth in the region. For more information, visit www.NorthernKentuckyusa.com. BE NKY can also be followed through social media channels via Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,600 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 are engaged in the full range of economic development experience. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in a wide variety of 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. www.iedconline.org.
