By Brenda Erdahl
Winners of the Excellence in Economic Development Awards were announced on January 26 as part of the Economic Development Association of Minnesota’s (EDAM) annual Winter Conference. The awards recognize projects and professionals in the economic development industry who have gone above and beyond or overcome significant challenges in the last year.
The winner of this year’s Economic Developer of the Year award was Wright County’s own Jolene Foss. Foss has been working with the Wright County Economic Development Partnership since June of 2020. She works with 11 different chamber of commerce’s, Wright County Commissioners, the Economic Development Authority and more to improve lives in her communities. She is involved in the Wright Tech Center’s CEO program and in 2023 is working on a Workforce Mobility program to help Wright County citizens get free skills training and education to support their local employers’ workforce needs and bring higher education opportunities to the county.
The Economic Developer of the Year recognizes a true leader in the industry from the past year. This person exemplifies excellence in economic development and leadership. This award is intended for a professional who utilizes best practices, collaborative thinking, creativity, and a spirit of innovation.
The Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM) is a state-wide association of professionals who specialize in economic development. EDAM champions economic development through education, collaboration and advocacy. The organization’s 460+ members consist of public, private and nonprofit professionals who are interested in staying informed and connected to current economic development strategies and best practices. EDAM was originally established in 1967 as the Minnesota Industrial Development Association and has evolved over the last 50 years to an organization dedicated to collaboration and innovation in the economic development industry.
Jolene Foss of the Wright County Economic Development Partnership recently won the Economic Developer of the Year award.