CEDA Award Nominations Due Aug. 22
The CEDA Awards were established by WEDA to recognize projects, businesses, and organizations that are making exceptional contributions to advance economic growth and prosperity in Wisconsin. This exciting event that celebrates economic development across Wisconsin will be held this year as part of WEDA’s 2025 Fall Best Practices Conference in Oshkosh, WI on September 25, 2025.
Recognizing successful economic development projects and programs through the CEDA Awards helps to elevate best practices, inspire innovation, and strengthen the state’s economic development network.
Please help us celebrate economic development and highlight your community by nominating an innovative project for a 2025 CEDA Award. Nominations, which close on Friday, Aug. 22, are being accepted in the following four categories (simply click on the “SUBMIT A NOMINATION” link and follow the online nomination instructions):
Business Retention and Expansion
This award recognizes a single economic development project in which a community successfully mobilized to retain and/or expand an existing business of great importance to the community. Nominations should demonstrate extensive cross-community collaboration, innovation and responsiveness to the business in bringing the project to fruition. This project should have occurred within the past three years.
Economic Development Initiative
This award recognizes innovation in community and economic development that promotes economic growth within communities and regions. Nominations should demonstrate how a program, project, or initiative is meeting one of the following:
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- Devlopment and support of the community’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
- Development or expansion of driver industry sector initiatives;
- Programs aimed at assisting businesses with adoption of technology, artificial intelligence, and businesses best practices; and
- Significant placemaking initiatives that drive the greater good of the community.
Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse
This award recognizes innovative real estate redevelopment or reuse projects that demonstrate measurable and quantitative impact on employment and tax base. Nominations should provide details as to why the project will/has served as a catalyst for economic and community development efforts. It should also demonstrate an innovative approach to development and should have been completed within the past 5 years.
Talent Attraction, Development, and Retention
This award recognizes initiatives or programs that can document successful talent attraction, development, and retention outcomes. Nominations should identify how the program or initiative provided a strategic and innovative approach to meet one or more of following goals: Strengthening the skills of the workforce; talent attraction and retention; integration and alignment of economic and workforce development activities; and addressing barriers to employment such as childcare, housing and transportation.
Keep in mind that the independent panel of CEDA judges consider all projects, regardless of whether it is small or large, or if it is rural or urban. The emphasis is strictly placed on the economic impact each project has on its respective community or region.
Again, please consider nominating an innovative economic development project or program for a 2025 CEDA Award. Remember, nominations close on Aug. 22. Do not miss this opportunity to showcase impactful projects that drive growth and prosperity in your community.