Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County Accredited by the International Economic Development Council

International Economic Development Council President and CEO Nathan Ohle announced that EDASC has been recognized as one of 78 economic development organizations accredited by IEDC as an Accredited Economic Development Organization. He presented the award to EDASC CEO John Sternlicht, the board and staff at EDASC’s annual Economic Forecast Night on Feb. 15.

Not only is EDASC one of just 78 organizations to receive this esteemed accreditation it is also the only economic development organization in the entire Pacific Northwest to have received the AEDO designation.

“EDASC displays the professionalism, commitment, and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor,” Ohle said in a press release.

The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer review process that measures economic development organizations against commonly held standards in the profession. The program consists of two phases: a documentation review and an onsite visit. Each phase is designed to evaluate information about the structure, organization, funding, programs, and staff of the candidate economic development organization.

Earning the AEDO accreditation tells the community and prospects that EDASC has attained a measure of excellence assuring that their trust is well placed and their business is in good hands.

The review team “recommend[ed] accreditation without hesitation.” They noted: “EDASC is clearly an outstanding EDO with a proven track record of producing valued results. It has built a strong staff team, developed effective partnerships, and cultivated a strong governance structure.”

During his remarks at Economic Forecast Night, Ohle said the AEDO review committee was impressed with the level of professionalism demonstrated by EDASC and the positive comments offered by community leaders who work with the organization.  

“[They were] most impressed during the onsite visit to Skagit County, and the organization’s ability to work across the region,” he said.  

“They specifically highlighted the staff at the Alliance. [You are] an incredible team, the way that you work together, the way that you collaborate, the way that you collaborate and connect with community itself. This winning culture is a key strength for the organization.”

EDASC CEO John Sternlicht, a longtime IEDC member who also served three terms on its board of directors, said, “This accreditation represents a huge achievement of the EDASC team – both board and staff. Accreditation is the pinnacle of EDO best practices as evaluated independently, and it is the culmination of several years of work by our dedicated and highly professional team. We could not be prouder – but we will continue to improve and evolve every day as needs and practices change.”  

Sternlicht added a note of thanks to all the partners who met with the accreditation team and all those who make EDASC’s work possible.

The International Economic Development Council is the largest membership association serving economic and community development professionals in the world. With over 5,000 members nationwide and abroad, IEDC offers the economic development profession one source for information and professional development, one voice for the profession and one force for advocacy.