Economic Development Certified Community (EDCC)

The Economic Development Certified Community (EDCC) program, sponsored by the Nebraska Diplomats, recognizes communities that display a preparedness for economic development and a desire for growth. Becoming certified signifies to employers and potential newcomers that EDCCs have the essential ingredients for economic opportunity and a great quality of life. Communities must apply for EDCC certification. Successful applicants must demonstrate a high level of economic proactivity and a readiness to succeed. Each applicant is evaluated on program standards related to elements like local preparedness, support for business growth, organization and partnerships, well-identified targets and/or financing and business assistance, and available information on existing sites and/or buildings. Businesses and EDCC Communities The EDCC application process gives communities an opportunity to learn about relevant needs for various business projects and how to strategically address those needs. The program showcases and provides visibility to communities in Nebraska that have positioned themselves — as well as their employees, families and job creators — for economic development opportunities. Current Economic Development Certified Communities The Nebraska communities below hold the EDCC designation, proving they’re equipped for growth and ready to meet the needs of employees and firms that are in search of new horizons: Albion Falls City Kearney Plattsmouth Alliance Fremont Laurel Seward Auburn Geneva Lexington Scottsbluff Aurora Gering Lincoln Schuyler Beatrice Gothenburg McCook Sidney Chadron Grand Island Norfolk South Sioux City Columbus Hartington North Platte Wayne Cozad Hastings Ogallala West Point Crete Holdrege Ord York Why Apply as an EDCC? Certified communities are publicly recognized as economic development leaders within our state, and are marked as such to businesses and industries. Just as importantly, the process of becoming EDCC certified involves actions that ultimately make communities more prepared to succeed in panning, winning and executing competitive grant-based projects. EDCC Application Apply Now EDCC Program Objectives and Guidelines Certification will require a serious commitment from the participating community. Applicant communities are expected to have a full-time economic development director focused on business retention and expansion efforts and recruitment initiatives. Objectives Guidelines Provide communities with a specific checklist of items that define proactive communities. Identify communities with meaningful economic development agendas and capabilities increasing their opportunities for success. Recognize community organizational infrastructure readiness and ability to respond to existing and prospective business and industry needs. Encourage strategic cooperation among Nebraska’s economic development organization. This program is not a competitive process.   Certification for individual communities results from meeting specific criteria. The designation will be reserved for those communities that exhibit documented economic development readiness. Each applicant community will be judged against the program standards. These include (but are not limited to): Organization Identified targets and/or markets Community infrastructure Local financing and business assistance Controlled site or building information Certification Maintenance