2026 CALED Awards of Excellence Category: Local Economic Development Champion
Applications are now closed for CALED’s 2026 Awards of Excellence
This award recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the profession over a career, and exemplary commitment in economic development work by a CALED member. The award identifies exemplary public service professionals regardless of their job title. Nominations are solicited from members, and the recipient must be a current member of CALED.
*This is not a competitive award – meaning we will recognize all deserving nominees that meet the rigorous criteria of this category.
A. AWARD QUALIFICATIONS
1. The recipient must be a current member of CALED. To verify the nominee’s membership status, please contact Ian Gill at iangill@caled.org.
2. The recipient must have at least 25 years of paid professional experience in economic development in California.
- Provide bio, curriculum vitae, or resume
- Provide at least two references
*The resume and summary of experience provided must demonstrate experience in at least four core economic development areas noted below:
- Business attraction: How to market your community
- Developing an economic development strategy
- Basic and advanced financing techniques – business & project finance
- Business retention and expansion techniques
- Business Creation: entrepreneurship support systems and programs
- Real estate development and reuse
- Community economic development strategies
- Managing an economic development organization – public, private, or nonprofit
3. The recipient must not be self-nominated.
4. The recipient must be currently employed or recently retired (within the last 6 months)
5. If selected by awards committee, both the submitter and nominee will be notified. If nominee is not selected, only the submitter will be notified.
If selected, both the submitter and nominee will be notified. If not selected, only the submitter will be notified.
If you have any questions, please email iangill@caled.org before February 18, 2026.