The international event will be celebrated the week of May 9 to May 13, 2022

Stafford, VA – Stafford County Board of Supervisors and its Department of Economic Development and Tourism celebrate the week of May 9 to May 13, 2022, as next Economic Development Week. During this week, communities across North America will celebrate and recognize the contributions made by professional economic developers to create more economically vibrant and livable communities.

Created in 2016 by International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest international professional trade association for economic developers, Economic Development Week aims to increase awareness for local programs that create jobs, advance career development opportunities, and improve the quality of life in communities everywhere.

“Economic developers play essential roles in promoting the economic health and vitality of their communities — a fact that has only been proven further by the events of the past two years,” says IEDC President & CEO Nathan Ohle. “The 2022 Economic Development Week will serve to recognize, honor and celebrate the ingenuity and leadership practitioners have shown in working to create a more equitable and prosperous future for everyone. I encourage everyone to begin planning their own celebrations that will lift up the important outcomes economic developers facilitate in their communities.”

Stafford County is celebrating the exponential growth in business and expansion. This economic success is heavily fueled by a campaign strategy identified as the Stafford Advantage. The Stafford Advantage highlights the county’s key location and accessibility, tech infrastructure and target industries, and Stafford’s competitive business incentives.

• Location and accessibility: Just 25 miles south of Washington, D.C. and 50 miles north of Richmond, the pace is slower, but the ambition is electric. Bisected by I-95, the county offers prime access to key markets, without sacrificing metropolitan amenities. Stafford-based Marine Base Quantico, the FBI Lab/Academy, and NCIS keep collaboration energetic and the Talent pool plentiful.
• Tech infrastructure and target industries: Stafford’s target industries in corporate headquarter, warehouse distribution, data centers, and tech infrastructure are design to complement Stafford’s diverse and growing business climate. From current state-of-the-art technology-based organizations who call Stafford home to the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Smart Community Testbed, Stafford is identified as a technology hub and advanced community.
• Business Incentives: Stafford leads with the lowest business costs in northern Virginia. BPOL taxes, imposed in many localities, don’t exist in Stafford. Low property tax rates, affordable land, and the best value in Northern Virginia Class A office space puts the savings in perspective.

 The Stafford Advantage campaign has attracted new investments including the creation of 1400 jobs and over 4 million square feet in new developments. As a result of this business growth, the Stafford EDA offers competitive small business loans and supports entrepreneurial development through a series of business focused programs and events. Find out more about the Stafford EDA financial programs and entrepreneurial events online.

“On behalf of the EDA, I am honored to announce 2022 Economic Development Week. Economic Development is the intentional practice of improving a community’s wellbeing, quality of life, place and business. It is a collaborative effort and the EDA and Stafford County should be proud of it’s efforts to support small and large business investments and expansion in Stafford. I encourage us all to work together across our region to continue to foster and build a strong economy.” Joel Griffin, Stafford County Economic Development Authority Chairman

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About Stafford County Department of Economic Development and Tourism:
Stafford County is located halfway between Washington, DC and Richmond, VA. The Department of Economic Development & Tourism is the sales arm for the community, committed to advancing expansion and investment to Stafford County. As the official destination marketing organization of Stafford County, our mission is to promote, solicit and encourage tourism and business travel through marketing and media services that enhance economic activity and quality of life within the Stafford region. For more information on Stafford’s Economic Development & Tourism, visit www.GoStaffordVA.com or www.TourStaffordVA.com.

About the International Economic Development Council:
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,300 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities, by creating, retaining and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members are engaged in the full range of economic development experience. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in a wide variety of settings including local, state, provincial and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities and a variety of other institutions. IEDC’s members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve the quality of life in their regions. www.iedcONLINE.org.