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U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Announces City of Kannapolis, North Carolina as Excellence in Economic Development Award Recipient

June 5, 2009
Contact: Bryan Borlik, (202) 482-4085

City of Kannapolis, North Carolina Wins Award for Economic Diversification Strategies

WASHINGTON - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced that the city of Kannapolis, N.C., received the 2009 Excellence in Economic Development Award for Excellence in Economic Diversification Strategies for their commitment to research-based, market driven economic development in helping grow the local economy.

"The city of Kannapolis represents the best and brightest in 21st century economic development," Locke said. "Excellence Award winners exemplify the importance of supporting regional strategies to ensure American communities succeed in the global marketplace and create higher-skill, higher-wage jobs."

"The city of Kannapolis has done an outstanding job in responding to the changes in our economy," Congressman Larry Kissell said. "The North Carolina Research Campus is bringing skilled, high-income jobs to an area which we all know has been devastated by the loss of our textile industry. With its efforts, Kannapolis has turned adversity into opportunity, creating a place where ground-breaking research will be achieved."

Nominations are made annually in different categories and are evaluated by a Selection Panel appointed by the Assistant Commerce Secretary for Economic Development.

This year's categories were:

  • Excellence in Urban or Suburban Economic Development

  • Excellence in Rural Economic Development

  • Excellence in Environmental or Energy Economic Development

  • Excellence in University-led Economic Development

  • Excellence in Economic Diversification Strategies

  • Excellence in Community and Faith-based Social Entrepreneurship

  • Excellence in Historic Preservation-led Strategies.

  • EDA is an agency within the U.S. Commerce Department and supports the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. Its mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.

Additional information on how EDA investments are helping distressed communities create a positive and sustainable economic future can be accessed at: http://www.eda.gov.