The AEDO designation places the Choctaw Nation in the top one percent of economic development organizations in the U.S. Only three other Oklahoma communities – Ada, Ponca City and the Tulsa Chamber, have received this prestigious recognition.
The Choctaw Nation assists communities in its reservation with marketing and recruiting businesses to their area. Last year, the Choctaw Nation Economic Development team assisted with 38 site selection Request for Proposals (RFP) and seven site visits. Three businesses chose to locate manufacturing operations in the Choctaw Nation, creating 120 new jobs and $93 million in capital investments.
“We are committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. It’s important for them to market themselves to businesses so we can invest in our future and create a sense of pride in our communities,” said Chief Gary Batton, Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. “Our economic development efforts, help communities create an attractive environment for businesses and their employees.”
“The Choctaw Nation displays the professionalism, commitment, and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle.
The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer review process that measures economic development organizations against commonly held standards in the profession. The program consists of two phases: a documentation review and an onsite visit. Each phase is designed to evaluate information about the structure, organization, funding, programs, and staff of the candidate economic development organization.
Earning the AEDO accreditation tells the community and prospects that the Choctaw Nation has attained a measure of excellence assuring that their trust is well-placed and their business is in good hands.
Maintenance of the AEDO status is required every three years and is accomplished through documentation submission and/or onsite visits by a team of the AEDO subcommittee.
About The International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council is the largest membership association serving economic and community development professionals in the world. With over 5,000 members nationwide and abroad, IEDC offers the economic development profession one source for information and professional development, one voice for the profession and one force for advocacy. For more information on IEDC or the AEDO program, call Dana Crater at (910) 821.0245; fax (202) 223.4745; write to IEDC at 1275 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005; email dcrater@iedconline.org; or visit IEDC’s website at www.iedconline.org.
About The Choctaw Nation
The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest Indian Nation in the United States with nearly 230,000 tribal members and 12,000-plus associates. This ancient people has an oral tradition dating back over 14,000 years. The first tribe over the Trail of Tears, its historic reservation boundaries are in the southeast corner of Oklahoma, covering 10,923 square miles. The Choctaw Nation’s vision, “Living out the Chahta Spirit of faith, family and culture,” is evident as it continues to focus on providing opportunities for growth and prosperity. For more information about the Choctaw Nation, its culture, heritage and traditions, please go to www.choctawnation.com.
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