IEDC Releases Equitable Economic Development Playbook & Announces First Equity Communities Cohort

"A Playbook for Equitable Economic Development" launches today

WASHINGTON - Feb. 2, 2022 - PRLog -- The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) released its Equitable Economic Development Playbook today. The Playbook examines structural racism in economic development and promotes equitable practices and standards, both in the post-pandemic recovery and over the long term.

"We are so excited to release the Equitable Economic Development Playbook today," said Todd Greene, IEDC Chair and Executive Director of WorkRise and Institute fellow at the Urban Institute. "It is the responsibility of all economic development professionals to promote equitable policies, practices, and standards to ensure all segments of our communities benefit from our efforts. To this end, the Playbook demonstrates the profession's renewed intentionality and is the substrate upon which we envision new equitable economic development ideas and approaches will be catalyzed."

"The economic systems in the United States have routinely valued profit over labor and Covid-19 laid bare the injustices that were already present for communities of color," said Otis Rolley, Senior Vice-President of the Equity and Economic Opportunity Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation. "We are proud to support the IEDC's work to ensure equity is at the forefront of economic development."

IEDC is also announcing its first Equity Communities Cohort, another component of the initiative. The five organizations participating in this Cohort are The City of El Paso (El Paso, TX), Elevate Rapid City (Rapid City, SD), Village Capital (Cleveland, OH), Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MD), St. Louis Development Corporation (St. Louis, MO). They will receive technical assistance through visits, webinars, and cohort check-ins and create an Equity Action Plan based on their local needs and challenges.

"Diversity is a hallmark of Montgomery County. We're one of the most diverse counties in the country with 150 languages spoken in our schools and one-third of our residents foreign-born," said Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Benjamin H. Wu. "We want to make sure that all residents can share in our prosperity and developing an inclusive economy is a priority for us. Participation in the IEDC Equity Communities initiative will help further our local and regional efforts to promote equitable practices and standards."

IEDC's Equitable Economic Development Playbook Program has been made possible by The Rockefeller Foundation and The Kresge Foundation.

The Equitable Economic Development Playbook can be downloaded here.

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