Earlier this month, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) recognized the City of Fort Collins’ Economic Health Office (EHO) as one of 83 economic development organizations accredited by IEDC as an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO).

“This is confirmation that the work EHO does is effective and innovative,” said SeonAh Kendall, EHO director. “This is a credit to the team for their hard work and dedication to support a resilient economy where people and businesses can thrive.”

“With more than 10,000 economic development organizations in North America, being one of 83 is a major accomplishment,” she said. “And it wouldn’t be possible to achieve this accreditation without the support of our City leadership, stakeholders and regional partners.”

The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer review process that measures economic development organizations against commonly held standards in the profession. Fort Collins’ review was a ninth-month process consisting of two phases: a documentation review and an onsite visit in August 2024.

Each phase is designed to evaluate information about the structure, organization, funding, programs and staff of the candidate economic development organization.

“The City of Fort Collins displays the professionalism, commitment and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle.

Earning the AEDO accreditation tells the community and business prospects that Fort Collins’ Economic Health Office has attained a measure of excellence assuring that their trust is well-placed and their business is in good hands.

Maintenance of the AEDO status is required every three years and is accomplished through documentation submission and/or onsite visits by a team of the AEDO subcommittee.

Fort Collins Economic Health Office

The City of Fort Collins' Economic Health Office is committed to strengthening and diversifying the local economy while creating better opportunities for all residents. Its programs and staff work to retain and expand local businesses, connecting business owners and employees with support, resources and expertise to help them succeed and thrive. Its award-winning Multicultural Business and Entrepreneurship Center (MBEC) offers multi-lingual support to small businesses owners, helping them navigate the uncertainties of starting and operating a small business. EHO staff also work alongside local and regional organizations to support and foster workforce development. Learn more about the City of Fort Collins’ Economic Health Office, its work, programs and strategic plan at fcgov.com/business.

The International Economic Development Council

The International Economic Development Council is the largest membership association serving economic and community development professionals in the world. With more than 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. For more information on IEDC or the AEDO program, visit IEDC’s website at iedconline.org.