California Economic Development
Award of Excellence

There are five screens to this application. The fourth screen has 5 to 8 questions to answer and the opportunity to upload 3 documents and link to 3 websites. After the fifth screen, you may click "Finished" and submit the application or save the application and return to it. Payment information will be requested when you click the "Finished" button.

No DVDs or videos are permitted, although you may link to an online video or multi-media file.

IF YOU HAVE TECHNICAL TROUBLE, CALL CAROLYN AT (866)429-1527.

Application deadline is February 15, 2008

This category honors development projects between the public and private sector that exemplify the spirit of partnership. Some examples from previous years include redevelopment projects, office/retail complex projects, and downtown improvement projects.

Entries in this category will be judged on criteria such as:

• Was there something innovative and creative involved in this project?
• What was the significant impact on employment, expansion of the local tax base and diversification of the area’s economy?
• Did you effectively leverage private investment?

To be eligible, projects must have completed construction during 2007, or a major phase of a multi-year project must have been completed and functioning in 2007.

This category recognizes outstanding and innovative programs which have made a significant contribution to the field of economic development during 2007. These are programs that manage resources to influence or carry out economic development policy in a progressive, timely and/or cost effective manner. Some examples from previous years include export trade programs, business finance programs, and an innovative city economic development strategy.

Entries in this category will be judged on criteria such as:

• Can your project be replicated in other communities?
• How effectively/efficiently did you manage resources?
• What was the significant impact on employment, expansion of the local tax base and diversification of the area’s economy?

To be eligible, programs must show tangible evidence of measurable success with a minimum of one year of actual implementation. For example, a course developed for harvesting entrepreneurs may measure its success by growth in attendance.

This category recognizes outstanding efforts and achievements in economic development advertising, marketing and promotion. The emphasis is on effective public relations and comprehensive ongoing business development campaigns that utilize special web sites, print or broadcast media, collateral material, video or personal contact efforts.

Entries in this category will be judged on criteria such as:

• How effective was the promotion?
• Was it innovative/creative?
• Why is this promotion on the cutting edge of our industry?

Please remember, although your promotional tools such as novelty items w/logos, DVDs, CDs, etc. are important, you will be judged by the answers you provide to the questions and not necessarily by these items. For example, a movie that tells the story of your community does not tell us how you used it, why it was effective, or why it is on the cutting edge of our industry.