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<\/p>\nPublished on August 20, 2026<\/p>\n
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The City of Arlington and the Arlington Economic Development Corporation (EDC) received three 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council<\/a> (IEDC).<\/p>\n Winning entries included a Gold Award for the Arlington Business Certification (ABC) Program in the Economic Equity & Inclusion category, Silver Award for the Arlington Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Annual Report in the Annual Report category and a Bronze Award for E-Space in the Real Estate Development & Reuse category.<\/p>\n \u201cThe City of Arlington and the Arlington EDC are leading the field of excellence in economic development. These awards shine a spotlight on Arlington\u2019s commitment to its community and showcase the significant impact of economic development,\u201d said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. \u201cIEDC is honored to present these awards to the Arlington EDC to celebrate their leadership and innovation in the field.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The ABC program, launched in May 2025, helps business-owners by reimbursing them after obtaining industry-recognized certifications that help enhance their qualifications. It has served 24 businesses who have secured over $1 million in contracts as a result of their certification, with 64 participating businesses total. The program is currently undergoing a period of restructuring and is expected to relaunch in Fall 2026.<\/p>\n The Arlington EDC FY25 Annual Report<\/a> detailed major project milestones and big wins, including the E-Space North American HQ and airport development, groundbreaking and topping out of Caravan Court Hotel and several HQ projects. The judges appreciated the report\u2019s use of visuals and that the publication was created entirely in-house.<\/p>\n The E-Space North American HQ project<\/a> broke ground in October 2025. The project includes a 480,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and office facility, parking, airport access road, aircraft apron and 33,450 sq. ft. hangar for the global telecommunications and satellite manufacturing company. Earlier this year, The E-Space North American HQ project<\/a> also won in the Industrial development category at the Dallas Business Journal Best Real Estate Deals Awards<\/a> and a Business Facilities Impact Award.<\/a><\/p>\n Each year, IEDC honors economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that consistently demonstrate excellence in the field. The honorees lead transformational projects that revitalize communities and advance the practice of economic development. Award-winners will be honored at the IEDC 2026 Annual Conference<\/a> in New Orleans, Louisiana, September 25-28.<\/p>\n This year’s awards take on special meaning, as IEDC celebrates its 100th anniversary. In recognizing excellence in economic development, IEDC and its partners are celebrating successes and shining a spotlight on programs that inspire and prepare the field for the next century of economic development.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n