By the Kansas Department of Commerce
KANSAS (Sept. 27, 2024) — The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP) has received two 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for their Rural Champions program. The awards were given specifically for the department’s work in the Innovative Economic Development and Regional or Cross-Border Partnership categories that impacted rural communities.
The awards were announced at the IEDC 2024 Annual Conference held in Denver last week.
“The Office of Rural Prosperity is setting the standard of excellence for economic development with their Rural Champions program,” IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle said. “These awards highlight the Department of Commerce’s commitment to its communities and demonstrate the transformative impact of economic development. It’s with great pride that IEDC presents these awards to the Office of Rural Prosperity, celebrating their leadership and innovation in the field of economic development.”
The Office of Rural Prosperity, in collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation, developed the Rural Champions program as a resource for community members to work on a locally identified issue that they might have enough resources to address on their own. The selected community leaders are provided with a one-year wage stipend and an implementation grant. They also are paired with a team that provides training and other resources to assist them throughout their projects.
“As a rural Kansan, I can say first-hand that our rural communities experience unique and complex challenges,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Our Rural Champions program has provided grassroots leaders with the resources to elevate their town and make the changes they desperately need. These two awards truly speak to our continued commitment to our rural communities and to the entire State of Kansas.”
The awards were accepted by Quality Places Assistant Secretary Matt Godinez, ORP Director Trisha Purdon and Rural Champions Program Manager Kerry Falletti on behalf of the Department of Commerce and the Office of Rural Prosperity.
Every year, IEDC looks specifically for economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession. The execution of these projects has a significant impact on revitalizing communities and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development in every region of Kansas.
“We’re honored to receive this recognition for our work in developing the Rural Champions program; it was truly a collaborative partnership that has made an incredible impact in these communities,” Director of the Office of Rural Prosperity Trisha Purdon said. “The partnership with the Patterson Family Foundation and these community organizations will leave long-lasting impacts on our state for years to come.”
To learn more about the Rural Champions and their projects across Kansas, click here.
