LEDA awarded IEDC’s Excellence

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) awarded Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA) the Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award at the IEDC annual conference in Indianapolis, IN on Wednesday, October 16.

The Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award recognizes excellence in economic development through meaningful linkages with post-secondary education. LEDA was honored on behalf of their partnered efforts with Austin Coding Academy, South Plains College and Texas Tech University. LEDA established the Lubbock Coding Academy (LCA) web development, computer programming and code training program offered to the Lubbock community, this year. The LCA provides the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce to those who recently graduated high school or are interested in advancing their skill in the technology sector. Through projects designed to advance and prepare Lubbock’s future workforce, such as the collective partnership between LEDA and the LCA, LEDA has made these investments a top priority by equipping students with the skills needed to enter into a growing industry. 

“Within the past year, we have seen tremendous success in our partnership with the Lubbock Coding Academy.” said John Osborne, CEO and President of the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance. “In our efforts to further equip Lubbock’s workforce, the Lubbock Coding Academy provides students with the skills and talent they need to fill the high-demand jobs available to them upon graduation in the ever-growing tech industry.” 

Criteria for the award included a demonstration of a collaboration with an educational institution and focused on the partnership as well as the programmatic outcomes. Nominees were to exhibit direct economic benefit to the community, spin-off impact of the partnership, creativity and innovation in organizing or governing the partnership, and the extent of the partnership in planning, development and financing the project.

“We are centered primarily around workforce to ensure we have a future trained workforce available for our businesses.”

John Osborne
Lubbock Economic Development Alliance