The Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado has received a 2018 Aliceann Wohlbruck Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations for the San Juan Recovery Coordinator Project.
The recovery coordinator develops a resiliency plan for businesses and identifies opportunities for economic diversification, according to Terry Blair-Burton, Region 9 program administrator.
The position is held by Melanie Russek, a 10-year Silverton resident who works with the San Juan Development Association to improve economic conditions in the county. The position is funded by the Economic Development Administration through April 2020 with a match from SJDA.
Ninety projects in 24 states received the award, but the San Juan project was the only winner from Colorado. The projects were honored during NADO’s 2018 Annual Training Conference in October in Charlotte, N.C., where Laura Lewis Marchino, Region 9’s executive director, accepted the award. These projects are presented in an interactive “Story Map” available online at nado.org/innovation-awards.
NADO is a Washington, D.C.-based membership association of regional development organizations and the Innovation Awards program recognizes regional development organizations improving the economic and community competitiveness of regions and local communities.
The award were presented in honor of Aliceann Wohlbruck, NADO’s first executive director, who worked 24 years on regional approaches to economic development in rural communities.
For more information, call Melanie Russek at sanjuancoordinator@scan.org or 970-769-3486.