Partnership Gwinnett has earned its first-ever designation as an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The accreditation reflects the strength of the partnerships that continue to drive business, talent and community forward in Gwinnett. The designation places the initiative among only 100 accredited economic development organizations worldwide, recognized for meeting rigorous professional standards and demonstrating organizational excellence, accountability and effectiveness in advancing economic development.

“Achieving this accreditation supports best practices in governance, fiscal responsibility, and high-performance standards, validating the strength of our organization and the collaborative approach that has driven economic development for two decades,” said Nick Masino, President and CEO of the Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett. “This process was led by Rebecca Reis, our Senior Director of Marketing, Communications and Events. Without her leadership, determination, and the outstanding work of her team, we would not have achieved this recognition. Our success has always been built through partnership, and this accreditation belongs to our staff, investors, businesses, community leaders, and partners who continue to help move Gwinnett forward.”

Nathan Ohle, President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council, added, “Partnership Gwinnett displays the professionalism, commitment and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor.”

The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer-review process that evaluates economic development organizations against globally recognized standards for the profession. From extensive documentation review to an onsite evaluation conducted by experienced economic development professionals, the review examines an organization’s governance, structure, funding, strategic planning, programs, operations, staff development, marketing, business development practices and overall effectiveness.

“AEDO accreditation is not the result of a single success; it's the result of demonstrating that every part of an organization consistently operates at a high level, year after year,” said Kevin Carmichael, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for Partnership Gwinnett. “We're proud that Partnership Gwinnett exceeded these standards of excellence because it affirms the strong partnerships, disciplined strategy, sustained collaboration and long-term systems that have guided our work for nearly two decades.”

Partnership Gwinnett Board Chair Alyssa Davis said, “The true measure of an economic development organization is the impact it creates for the community it serves. For almost 20 years, Partnership Gwinnett has worked alongside public and private partners to help facilitate more than $7 billion in capital investment, support the creation of more than 39,000 jobs, strengthen existing businesses and position Gwinnett to compete for the next generation of opportunity. This achievement recognizes not only the organization we've built, but the measurable results that our collaborative approach continues to deliver.”

AEDO accreditation must be maintained every three years through additional documentation reviews and onsite evaluations, ensuring accredited organizations continue to meet the standards established by IEDC.

To learn more about Partnership Gwinnett’s work in driving business, community and talent in Gwinnett, visit PartnershipGwinnett.com.