FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 18, 2004
US Commerce Department Honors Regional Initiative with Top National Award
North Carolina Organization Gets High Honors from the Commerce Department
The Research Triangle Regional Partnership today received high honors when the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the organization as a co-winner of the Commerce Department's 2004 Regional Competitiveness Excellence in Economic Development Award. The award recognizes the Research Triangle Regional Partnership's commitment to sound, research-based, market driven economic development in helping grow the local economy.
The Research Triangle Regional Partnership is a public-private partnership that promotes economic development for the 13-county Research Triangle Region of North Carolina comprising Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren counties.
"I'm honored to recognize the Research Triangle Regional Partnership for its outstanding efforts to empower North Carolina residents by attracting private-sector investments and creating higher-skill, higher-wage jobs," said U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans. "This award is a great example of our appreciation of organizations like this one to help grow the economy and create jobs for local citizens."
"The winners of EDA's Excellence Awards represent the best and brightest economic development methods and practices in use today," said Assistant Secretary for Economic Development David A. Sampson. "Their commitment to sound, research-based, market-driven economic development is helping America's communities grow their economies and create jobs. I am grateful for their participation in our national awards program."
The Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) was recognized for the development of its regional initiative, "Staying on Top: Winning the Job Wars of the Future." The five-year, $5 million plan aims to create 100,000 jobs and boost employment in all 13 counties of the region (see details at www.researchtriangleregion.org).
"We are in competition with regions around the world for jobs and opportunity," said RTRP President and CEO Charles A. Hayes. "This national recognition honors the initiative and determination of business and community leadership from across our 13-county region who are committed to doing what it takes to ensure we win."
The Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) gives the award. The Commerce Department also awarded other organizations across the country with Excellence in Economic Development Awards for Excellence in Community and Faith-based Economic Development; Excellence in Economic Adjustment; Excellence in Innovation; Excellence in Regional Competitiveness; Excellence in Technology-led Economic Development; Excellence in Urban or Suburban Economic Development; and Excellence in Rural Economic Development.
Nominations for EDA's Excellence Awards are made in specific categories announced each year and nominees are evaluated by a Selection Panel appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
Winners will receive their awards at a Capitol Hill reception as part of the EDA National Conference "The Innovation Imperative - Translating Ideas Into Regional Prosperity" to be held June 8-10 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. (see details at www.edanationalconference.com).
The EDA National Conference will bring together successful grassroots practitioners and top national experts to discuss how to turn America's ideas into more marketable products, processes, services, and most importantly, more new jobs here at home.
EDA serves as a venture capital resource to meet the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA partners with states, units of local government and community nonprofit organizations in economically distressed areas, regions and communities in order to alleviate conditions of poverty and substantial and persistent unemployment and underemployment.
Additional information on how EDA investments are helping distressed communities create a positive and sustainable economic future can be accessed at http://www.doc.gov/eda.
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Contacts:
Matthew Crow, US Commerce Department, 202-482-4085
Cyndy Falgout, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, 919-401-3548
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