Awards

2026 Division Awards Program Best practice, Innovation and student awards

The Economic Development Division is seeking nominations for its awards program in the following categories – Best Practices: Planning & Implementation, Innovation: Planning & Implementation, Holzheimer Student Scholarship and the Donald E. Hunter excellence in economic development honoring Don Hunter, who contributed a great deal of time and wisdom to APA, including serving as Chair of the Economic Development Division.

Nomination period is closed.

The awards information packet and application form can be accessed below:

2026 EDD Awards Application Packet

Donald E. Hunter Excellence in Economic Development Nomination Form

Best Practice - Planning Project Nomination Form

Best Practice - Implementation Project Nomination Form

Innovation - Planning Project Nomination Form

Innovation - Implementation Project Nomination Form

Holzheimer Student Scholarship Nomination Form

Award winners will be announced at the 2026 Annual National APA Planning Conference, to be held in Detroit from April 25-28. Projects receive nationwide recognition as award recipients will be recognized at the annual meeting, be featured in the Economic Development Division’s quarterly newsletter, and may be given the opportunity to participate in a webinar discussing their award-winning project.

Honorees have used the award as an opportunity to recognize their team’s professional accomplishments at community events, worked with local media to highlight the project to build and maintain local support and recognition, as well as promote the company’s success on social media by advertising the award-winning project.

Only APA members may submit nominations. Division members are encouraged to self-nominate or nominate projects that deserve recognition.

Any questions on the awards program may be emailed to apaecondev@gmail.com with “awards” in the subject line.

Past Awardees