Arlington is making waves in the economic development scene, scooping not one, but two awards for their innovative approaches to fostering local business and commerce. The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) granted the city's Economic Development Corporation (EDC) a Gold Award for its General Purpose Website, and a Bronze for the LiftFund Interest Buydown program in the Innovative Financing category. "The City of Arlington and Arlington EDC are leading the field of excellence in economic development with their website and Interest Buydown program," said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO, per the City of Arlington's Office of Communication.
These awards are no small feat, considering they're meant to recognize those who are able to consistently deliver innovative solutions to rapidly evolve and adapt in the face of economic challenges. The EDC's website isn't just raking in awards from the IEDC, it's also been hailed as the best Issue-Specific Website by the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers and is still in the running for a 3CMA Savvy Award in the same category.
The LiftFund Interest Buydown program is a first of its kind, being LiftFund's inaugural collaboration with a municipality in North Texas, all facilitated through the Arlington EDC. It's a program that stands out for its initiative to provide zero-interest loans to budding entrepreneurs, helping not just to keep businesses afloat but also to create and sustain jobs. "To date, the partnership has awarded $625,700 to 12 businesses, with over 100 jobs retained and created," the City of Arlington states.
With these recognitions, Arlington is affirming its role as a leader in the space of economic development—a field ever more important as communities seek to effectively navigate and grow within the complexities of the modern economy. These accolades will be officially presented at the IEDC 2025 Annual Conference, which is set to unfurl in Detroit, Michigan, from September 14-17. It's an event poised to further firmly spotlight the strides that Arlington has made on the national stage.
