WEDC: Wisconsin receives Innovation Award for community emergency recovery guidebook

Contact: Tom Thieding, 608-210-6767 tom.thieding@wedc.org

Link to Release: http://inwisconsin.com/blog/2012/10/02/recovery-guidebook-award/

MADISON — The EDA Disaster Recovery Collaborative of Wisconsin recently received a 2012 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation for the Community Economic Recovery Guidebook.

The Community Economic Recovery Guidebook was assembled to assist economic development organizations, businesses and community leaders in preparation of economic recovery from a disaster. Obtain a copy of the Community Economic Recovery Guidebook at http://bit.ly/wirecovery

The Community Economic Recovery Guidebook provides a framework of discussion to help local leaders speed disaster recovery by addressing key economic stabilization and recovery issues before a disaster occurs.

The guidebook was a collaboration of 32 federal, state and local economic development and emergency management organizations.

The economic recovery guidebook is a framework for local businesses, community leaders and economic development organizations to develop an economic recovery strategy for their communities. Using real situations and national best practices, the guide connects disaster management functions with economic development principles to identify strategies and suggests action steps for before and after a disaster.

The guidebook was funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and implemented in partnership with various state and local government agencies.

NADO is a Washington, DC-based association that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The association’s Innovation Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and partnering organizations for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities. Award winners will be showcased during NADO’s 2012 Annual Training Conference, to be held October 13-16 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“For more than 25 years, NADO’s Innovation Award has provided regional development organizations throughout the nation a unique opportunity to showcase their important work and their critical role in promoting economic development for rural and small metropolitan communities. The creativity and significant, long-term impact of regional programs and projects like the Community Economic Recovery Guidebook are the key to advancing the economic growth and sustainability of our nation’s regions and communities,” said NADO President Russell Cowley, executive director of the Six County Association of Governments in Richfield, UT.

About National Association of Development Organizations

Founded in 1967, the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) provides advocacy, education, networking, and research for the national network of 540 regional development organizations. NADO members provide professional, programmatic and technical assistance to over 2,300 counties and 15,000 municipalities.

About Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), formed in 2011 as a public-private entity, leads economic development efforts for the state and nurtures business growth and job creation by advancing Wisconsin’s business climate. In addition to Wisconsin’s strong legacy industries of agriculture and Chief Executive Magazine’s manufacturing, recent growth has occurred in water technology, renewable energy, bio-sciences, health care, and food processing. In 2012 Wisconsin was ranked No. 20 in “Best States for Business” and No. 17 as a top state for business by CNBC. WEDC partners with 650 economic development organizations throughout Wisconsin to serve businesses looking to start, grow or relocate. WEDC has four focus areas: business and industry development, economic and community development, entrepreneurship and innovation, and international business development. Visit inwisconsin.com or follow WEDC on Twitter @_InWisconsin to learn more.