WASHINGTON, DC (October 02, 2018) – Ann Arbor SPARK received a Bronze Excellence in Economic Development Award for its A2 Tech Trek Photo Challenge, a project in the category of New Media of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The honor was presented at an awards ceremony during the IEDC Annual Conference.
“We work every day to share what is great about our region, including the companies and people of our tech community that make Ann Arbor such a unique place to start and develop successful businesses,” said Phil Santer, Ann Arbor SPARK senior vice president. “We are grateful to IEDC for providing some national recognition of the importance of A2 Tech Trek in cultivating a welcoming tech community in the Midwest.”
One of SPARK’s marquee programs is A2 Tech Trek, during which leading technology companies open their doors to the public and feature their latest innovations. The event is great for showcasing Ann Arbor’s vibrant and creative tech community to job seekers, students, and influencers.
In 2017, SPARK introduced a new element to the event — a social media photo contest. The campaign, titled A2 Tech Trek Photo Challenge, encouraged the more than 4,000 Tech Trek attendees to share photos from the event on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #a2techtrek. Companies participating in the event took up the challenge as well, incorporating interactive photo opportunities for attendees. In the span of only four hours, the campaign received more than 1,200 tweets, reaching 2.5 million people.
“This year our judges reviewed some extraordinary projects that advanced both communities and businesses. We congratulate all the award winners and thank everyone who nominated their projects for sharing their success with fellow IEDC members. What we learn from each other helps us to grow and advance as a profession. We look forward to even greater participation from economic developers across the globe in the 2019 awards program,” said Craig Richard, CEcD, FM, president and CEO, Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and the 2018 IEDC Board Chair.
About Ann Arbor SPARK
Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, is advancing the region by encouraging and supporting business acceleration, attraction and retention. The organization identifies and meets the needs of business at every stage, from start-ups to large organizations. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit www.AnnArborUSA.org.
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is the world’s largest membership organization for economic development professionals. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life in their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, our members represent the entire range of economic development. Learn more at iedconline.org.
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