(Seguin) – The Seguin Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) is getting some much-deserved international attention.
That’s according to Nathan Ohle, the president and CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Ohle says the SEDC is being awarded the 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Bronze Level Award for its implementation of Quarterly Regional Job Fairs with regional partners.
Ohle states, “these exceptional projects showcase remarkable dedication and ingenuity within the field.”
This award recognizes the organization’s successful regional job fairs, held in partnership with the Cibolo Economic Development Corporation, the Schertz Economic Development Corporation, and the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce.
Proud of the work that is being done in the city of Seguin is Alora Wachholz, SEDC deputy director.
“I think that the greatest thing about being recognized by IEDC and on an international scale is just that we know what we do is world class and we like to promote that but being recognized by an international organization that says in fact what we are doing with our regional partners is world class is sort of validating and it helps us to kind of showcase one of the many things that makes Seguin unique,” said Wachholz.
Every year, IEDC looks specifically to recognize economic development organizations, government entities, and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession. They say these groups are those that are leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities and play a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development.
Wachholz says for the SEDC and its regional partners, offering the job fairs is a win not only for the manufacturing companies they represent but also for the community that they serve.
“The job fairs have grown every quarter that we do one. We’ve seen more in attendance from not only job seekers but from our companies and I think that right there is a testament that not only are they working but they continue to be needed so for those reasons, we absolutely make it a priority to continue to connect our local workforce with the employers here locally and I think by taking that sort of localized yet regional approach by having the four communities together on these job fairs is another reason of why it is so successful because we are able to not just look within the limits of one city but really to look at this labor shed here where we operate and pull for our companies from this labor pool,” said Wachholz.
The honor was awarded specifically for the organization’s work in the Regional or Cross-Border Partnership category that impacted 200,000 – 500,000 residents.
The SEDC and its regional partners will be acknowledged and honored at the IEDC 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, CO slated for Sept. 15-18.