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EcO15 Is National Finalist for the EDAs Excellence in Economic Development Awards 2009
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has notified the Community Education Coalition that the Economic Opportunities through Education 2015 (EcO15) initiative is one of three national finalists in one of their annual Excellence in Economic Development Awards competition categories. The EcO15 initiative was recognized in the Excellence in Rural Economic Development category. The EDA annually recognizes innovative economic development projects or strategies in seven categories. The awards are designed to showcase best practices and highlight outstanding results.
A distinguished panel of economic development practitioners, academics and government representatives evaluated each nomination for this honor. On May 29, 2009, EDA will contact the winners in each award category and post their names on EDA’s website, www.eda.gov.
“We are honored that the EDA has chosen our region’s EcO15 initiative as a finalist in their Excellence in Economic Development Awards competition. Hundreds of stakeholders throughout the region including industry, economic development, workforce development, education, government, and community foundation leaders are working together to connect citizens of the region with educational opportunities that can lead to economic advancement,” said John Burnett, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Community Education Coalition.
EcO15 is an education and economic development initiative that is creating a regional system of life-long learning by connecting the residents of ten counties within rural Southeast Indiana to better economic opportunities through education by the year 2015. The ambitious vision of the project is to invest more than $38 million in grant funds awarded by Lilly Endowment Inc. in infrastructure and common support services allowing each citizen of the region to move up at least one level in their training, education, and/or job placement within the region’s three strongest economic clusters: Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare and Tourism.
EcO15 programs are led by the Community Education Coalition (CEC) of Columbus, Indiana in partnership with Heritage Fund: the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. CEC is a nationally recognized partnership of education, business, and community leaders focused on aligning and integrating the region’s community learning system with economic growth and a high quality of life.
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About Community Education Coalition:
The Community Education Coalition (www.educationcoalition.com) is a not for profit organization that brings together education, business and community stakeholders to align and integrate a community learning system. Specifically, CEC works to promote the efficient and successful integration of education, economic vitality and quality of life programming. Over the past few years, the CEC and its partners have established the Columbus Learning Center, a state-of-the-art 130,000 square foot educational facility that provides shared classroom, lab and library space to Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue College of Technology, Indiana University Purdue University Columbus, WorkOne, and related high school programs. CEC also -secured funding for expanded post-secondary education and training programs; assisted in the development of K-12 school programming; and has funded initiatives that support the development of pre-kindergarten children.
About Heritage Fund- the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County:
Heritage Fund—the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County (www.heritagefundbc.com) was formed in 1976 to provide an opportunity for people, businesses and organizations to make gifts and establish charitable funds to benefit the local community. It was created primarily to provide responsible stewardship of gifts donated for broad charitable purposes; to develop leadership to address community issues; to serve as catalyst for positive change in partnership with others; and to promote philanthropy broadly within the community.
About Lilly Endowment Inc.:
Lilly Endowment Inc. (www.lillyendowment.org) is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Gifts of stock in that company remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment. It is, however, a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the wishes of the three founders, Lilly Endowment exists to support the causes of community development, education and religion. The Lilly family’s foremost priority was to help the people of their city and state to build a better life. Although the Endowment also supports efforts of national significance and an occasional international project, it remains primarily committed to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.
For more information about EDA, visit www.eda.gov
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