DALLAS – Louisiana Economic Development workforce development and entertainment initiatives earned top honors at the 2023 International Economic Development Council Awards ceremony Tuesday.

The Aerospace Manufacturing Technology Program, LED FastStart’s workforce training collaboration with Nunez Community College in Chalmette and Boeing based at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, earned a Gold Award in the category of Partnerships with Educational Institutions. LED FastStart’s utilization of virtual reality for customized workforce training also earned national recognition from IEDC, taking home the Silver Award for Digital Media.

Louisiana Entertainment’s workforce initiative, the Entertainment Development Fund, received a Gold Award for Innovative Programs and Initiatives as well as a nomination for Best in Show, recognizing the best economic development program in all categories. The revamped Louisiana Entertainment website that launched last year also earned a Gold Award as the nation’s best special purpose economic development website. Earlier this summer, the website – LouisianaEntertainment.gov – also was recognized as Best of Show at the Southern Economic Development Council’s 2023 Communication Awards.

“LED’s distinction as the only state Accredited Economic Development Organization in the United States speaks volumes about the level of our commitment to economic development excellence in all that we do,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “The extraordinary growth in jobs and capital investment and the accelerating pace of economic diversification are a direct result of the passion for public service exhibited by the LED team and our regional economic development and higher education partners. I’m incredibly proud of their efforts and gratified to see them receive the recognition that they so richly deserve.”

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