Annual Economic Development Awards
Congratulations to our 2024 APA Economic Development Division Award Winners!
Overview
The American Planning Association Economic Development Division’s mission is to advance the practice and state of the art of economic development planning by increasing the understanding of economic development as a key element of public policy at all levels of government, and to promote it as a critical element of the neighborhood, community, regional and national planning process.
Economic development consists of policies and actions which strive to improve the overall quality of life for a community or region by raising its standard of living, reducing inequality and using resources in a sustainable manner. Each year, the Economic Development Division recognizes communities that exemplify these qualities in its Annual Economic Development Awards program.
Until 2022, the Division selected a single honoree for Excellence in Economic Development Planning which was later renamed in memory of past chair Don Hunter. Starting in 2022, the Division elevated the Hunter Award as its top honor and also added a best practice and innovation category to the annual awards program. In 2025, the Division revamped the Hunter Award again to honor an individual that has made exemplary contributions to the field of economic development. The Division also recognizes an outstanding student project with a Holzheimer Memorial Scholarship award of $500. In 2025, the Division added additional categories to the best practice and innovation awards to provide more opportunities for deserving projects to be recognized
The Award Categories are as follows:
- Donald E. Hunter Excellence in Economic Development
- Best Practice - Planning project
- Best Practice - Implementation project
- Innovation - Planning project
- Innovation - Implementation project
- Holzheimer Memorial Student Scholarship