Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation Earns National IEDC Awards

Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) seeks to drive economic growth through building on local assets and strategic partnering to target attraction, retention & expansion of industrial employers that provide economic-base jobs in the Gallup-McKinley County area, and to support & promote a business-friendly environment.

That effort has routinely received local and national recognition for its results. Since 2021, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has been awarded three Excellence in Economic Development Awards to GGEDC. The organization has received Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for three separate initiatives since 2020. 

Excellence in Economic Development Awards acknowledge the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships and the year’s most influential leaders.

“The winners of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development awards represent the best economic development and exemplify the leadership that our profession strives for every day,” said 2021 IEDC Board Chair and Invest Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Tom Kucharski. “We’re honored to recognize the more than 100 communities whose marketing submissions, projects, and partnerships have improved regional quality of life.”

2023 Silver Award in Innovation in Economic Development Week: Using Our Home Field Advantage to Grow Gallup & McKinley County, New Mexico

GGEDC and 11 local and state partners jointly planned and collaborated to celebrate Economic Development Week in May 2023. With a theme of “Using Our Home Field Advantage to Grow Gallup and McKinley County,” the week consisted of activities, panels, and seminars highlighting the various economic achievements occurring in Gallup’s flourishing community.

2023 Bronze Award in Best Use of Federal Economic Development Resources: Creating the Greater Gallup Industrial Workforce Program

In 2019, GGEDC created the Greater Gallup Industrial Workforce Program (GGIWP), a three-year industrial workforce training program pilot project with grant funding from the U.S. Economic Development Association. The category honors organizations that utilize federal resources in dynamic, impactful ways. Multiple community partners collaborated to implement the project that helps combat regional workforce shortages and provides residents with in-demand work skills. The program provides critical training in the trades to prepare residents for in-demand local industrial jobs. In December of 2022, management of the GGIWP transferred over to the Southwest Indian Foundation, a long-term construction training partner with GGEDC.

Read more details about both awards here.

2021 Gold Rank in Business Retention and Expansion: McKinley Paper Company Retention and Expansion 

GGEDC has operated a business retention and expansion program since 2013. Its importance was highlighted in 2020 when the McKinley Paper Company faced potential closure. GGEDC brought together local stakeholders to understand the company’s needs to ensure continued operations in the area. Through GGEDC’s leadership and guidance,  McKinley Paper Company received a five million dollar Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) grant from the State of New Mexico, which, at the time, was one of the five largest LEDA awards ever granted by the state and represented the first time the state had awarded a project under the category of business retention, and not business attraction.

Read about GGEDC and McKinley Paper Company here.

Greater Gallup Economic Development Development Corporation

GGEDC is an award-winning organization that works tirelessly to support entrepreneurs, small businesses and industry. Contact us at (505)722-2980 or via email to see how we can help today! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!