The three East Central Florida projects are among a class of 108 projects across 28 states.
Orlando, Florida (November 9, 2023) – The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council is proud to announce that it has received three 2023 Aliceann Wohlbruck NADO Impact Awards. The annual awards, hosted by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), highlight creative approaches to advancing regional economic development and increasing our knowledge of the region’s ever-changing challenges. The 2023 class of awardees comprises 108 projects from 71 organizations spanning 28 states.
“We’re so honored to have so many of our projects highlighted,” explained ECFRPC Executive Director Tara McCue. “These three projects showcase the diversity of work our team offers our region and have helped lay the foundation for new partnerships and programs through East Central Florida.”
The three ECFRPC projects honored among this year’s award recipients are;
Palm Bay Economic Development Strategic Plan
The Palm Bay Economic Development Strategic Plan provides a road map for Brevard County’s largest jurisdiction to harness its people, economic, and place-based assets to generate high-quality jobs, promote entrepreneurship, increase economic resiliency, create opportunities for inclusive economic development, and improve the community’s long-term prosperity.
Low Impact Development (LID) Implementation Ordinance Recommendations
The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC), in collaboration with the University of Florida IFAS Extension Program for Resource Efficient Communities (PREC) and Volusia County, developed a Low Impact Development (LID) implementation guidebook and ordinance recommendations to help local governments incorporate LID best management practices and incentives into ordinances to improve water quality and mitigate flooding.
Risk & Vulnerability Assessment
The Risk & Vulnerability Assessment was established to assess regional scale impacts from shocks and stressors to provide support for implementing strategies and resilient practices within the region through standardized and consistent hazards, climate sensitivities, social vulnerabilities, and asset datasets that can be utilized for each vulnerability assessment.
Luis Nieves-Ruiz, the ECFRPC’s Director of Economic Development, helped oversee two of the three projects and represented the ECFRPC at the NADO Impact Awards reception on November 8, 2023, in Cleveland, Ohio. Luis Nieves-Ruiz stated, “In a region as quickly evolving as ours, it is vital we stay current with the latest success stories from across the development and urban planning industries. I speak for everyone at the ECFRPC when I say how grateful we are to have our work recognized by NADO through these awards, and we recognize it is only through the partnerships from associations like NADO that these nationally recognized projects are to move from concept to reality.”
Staff at the ECFRPC are honored to be the recipients of three 2023 Aliceann Wohlbruck NADO Impact Awards and are grateful for the community partners that helped bring success to these projects.
The range between these projects showcases the ongoing work ECFRPC staff provides our unique region.
About the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Established in 1962 as an area-wide association of governments, the ECFRPC is represented by 32 Council members and a skilled staff that provides technical assistance to governments and organizations within the East Central Florida region. The ECFRPC covers eight counties in East Central Florida, including Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia. These eight counties include 78 towns and cities.
Media Contact
Ken Storey
Communications Specialist
KStorey@ECFRPC.org
407-245-0300 ext. 300