Metro Partnership reaccredited by IEDC
The Hot Springs Metro Partnership has again been recognized as one of 78 economic development organizations accredited by the International Economic Development Council as an Accredited Economic Development Organization, according to a news release from HSMP.
HSMP is one of only two economic development organizations in Arkansas to earn this status. “Originally accredited in 2016, the organization was reaccredited by IEDC following seven successful years of activity as an AEDO member,” the release said.
“The Hot Springs Metro Partnership displays the professionalism, commitment, and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor,” IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle said in the 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 on-site visit. Each phase is designed to evaluate information about the candidate economic development organization’s structure, organization, funding, program, and staff. Maintenance of the AEDO status is required every three years and is accomplished through documentation submission and/ or on-site visits by a team of the AEDO subcommittee,” the release said.
“We are thrilled for the Hot Springs Metro Partnership to have earned the AEDO status for a third consecutive term now. Cole McCaskill, Sheryl Staggs, and our HSMP team put a lot of work into this reaccreditation submission and process, and I can personally attest our recent final interview with the IEDC panel was incredibly comprehensive. They seemed to be particularly impressed with our advances in Workforce and Workforce Education, as well as us being recent recipients of a grant from the SHRM Foundation for that work,” Gary Troutman, HSMP president and CEO, said in the release.
“The AEDO accreditation is a prestigious recognition that signifies the Hot Springs Metro Partnership’s dedication to meeting the highest standards in the economic development industry. This accomplishment reflects the organization’s ongoing efforts to enhance the economic vitality of the Hot Springs region and support local businesses and communities. Earning the AEDO accreditation tells the community and prospects that the Hot Springs Metro Partnership attained a measure of excellence assuring that their trust is well placed, and their business is in good hands. The AEDO reaccreditation underscores the Hot Springs Metro Partnership’s exemplary performance and its positive impact on the local economy,” it said.
“The AEDO accreditation process is a challenging test of our operations. It’s rewarding that our peers have judged us to be among the nation’s top economic development organizations,” McCaskill, HSMP vice president of economic development, said in the release.
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, it said.