Shoals Economic Development Authority Receives Excellence in Economic Development Award from the International Economic Development Council

Washington, DC – Shoals Economic Development Authority (Shoals EDA) won a Silver Rank for Remote Shoals, a project in the category of Innovation Programs and Initiatives of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).The honor was presented today at an awards ceremony during the IEDC Annual Conference, which is currently underway.

"We could not be prouder of the success our Remote Shoals program has seen over the past year and are grateful to be able to offer The Shoals community as a home to remote workers," states Mackenzie Cottles, Marketing & Communications Specialist with the Shoals EDA. "Seeing our Remote Shoals residents plug into and find their place in The Shoals community is truly something special."

IEDC's Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world's best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year's most influential leaders. 25 award categories honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers, following a nomination process held earlier this year. IEDC received over 500 submissions from 4 countries.

Remote Shoals is a remote worker recruitment program designed and implemented by the Shoals EDA. The program provides an incentive of up to $10,000 to eligible applicants for relocating to and working from The Shoals. Requirements for the program include: 18 years-of-age, eligible to work in the United States, minimum annual income of $52,000, full-time remote worker/independent contractor, and able to move to The Shoals within six months. 

The program's application process is triggered by completing an online application on Remote Shoals’ website. Applicants are then evaluated by a series of criteria and video interviews are scheduled with the selected parties to determine who will receive an offer to participate in Remote Shoals. Once an offer is accepted, the applicant has six months to make their move to The Shoals. Our agency continues to assist in every step of the moving process by providing real estate and school system contacts, community tours, and any other issues that may arise from families moving from other parts of the country. We are committed to service after the sale and make sure our participants have many opportunities to engage and connect with the community.

"The winners of IEDC's Excellence in Economic Development awards represent the best of economic development and exemplify the leadership that our profession strives for every day," said 2021 IEDC Board Chair and Invest Buffalo Niagara, President, and CEO Tom Kucharski. "We're honored to recognize the more than 100 communities whose marketing submissions, projects, and partnerships have improved regional quality of life."

We're incredibly honored to recognize the outstanding organizations that received this year's Excellence Awards. This year, more than ever, has presented opportunities to innovate, impact, and progress the cities, neighborhoods, and communities around us. Each of this year's recipients represents the best of the economic development profession and exemplifies the ingenuity for fellow economic developers to aspire to in the years to come.

About the International Economic Development Council

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC's members engage in the full range of economic development experiences. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Learn more at iedconline.org.

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