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Finding Inspiration in an Award-Winning Year
In Loudoun County, we have an award-winning team of business developers, real estate experts and marketing professionals dedicated to your #LoudounPossible success. Our barometers of achievement are tied to the success of your business, and each time a new company locates or grows in the county.
We work across all sectors, with no project too big or client too small.
We don’t do it for the accolades, but we’re proud every time that Loudoun County gets recognized. Here are a few of the ways that our team, and by extension Loudoun County businesses, was celebrated in 2019:
- Washingtonian Tech Titan: For the third-straight year, Loudoun Economic Development’s Executive Director Buddy Rizer was recognized as a Tech Titan, one of 14 government officials, and one of only two working in local government. Rizer has spent years attracting the world’s largest tech companies to invest in Loudoun County, including a $1.2 billion commitment by Google in the last year.
- Loudoun Times-Mirror 40 Under 40: Loudoun Economic Development celebrated three staff members on this year’s Loudoun 40 Under 40 list, with Marketing and Communications Manager Brian Tinsman, Communications Program Manager Amy Mugford, and Business Development Manager Swanka Burnette all making the list. The department also counts Chris Hunter among the recent list alum.
- Washington Business Journal’s Power 100: In addition to Rizer’s efforts growing Loudoun’s vibrant technology sector, the Power 100 list also mentioned his leadership in preparing Loudoun’s business community for the arrival of D.C. Metrorail in 2020.
- Loudoun Made, Loudoun Grown Onesies: In January, Loudoun Economic Development promoted its “Loudoun Made, Loudoun Grown” program in a special way, welcoming the first 100 babies born at Loudoun hospitals with a special onesie and welcome package. The idea was to congratulate new parents and connect them with local farms for healthy nutrition options. This received the following awards:
- National Association of Counties Achievement Award
- Graphic Design, USA American Graphic Design Award
- International Economic Development Council, Bronze Award
- Hermes Creative Awards, Honorable Mention
- Rural Uses Documents: Loudoun Economic Development led an inter-departmental project to create plain-language start-your-business guides for rural entrepreneurs. These Rural Uses Documents were made available to the public in both printed and electronic formats, with step-by-step considerations and contact information for county and state agencies. This received the following awards:
- MarCom Gold Award
- It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Loudoun: Each year, Loudoun Economic Development has each member of the staff hand sign more than 1,000 holiday cards that are sent out to existing businesses, prospects and community partners. For the first time, the department also included a link to an interactive holiday card online that showed Santa’s workshop full of Loudoun-related items. As guests hovered over each item, they learned more about the industry and quality of life in the county. This received the following awards:
- Hermes Creative Awards, Gold Award
- Loudoun Playbook: Loudoun Economic Development works closely with commercial real estate brokers and site selectors from around the country to help businesses thinking of relocating or expanding their operations to consider Loudoun. In recent years, Loudoun has developed a familiarity tour, with disparate elements tied together by a “Loudoun Playbook.” This received the following awards:
- International Economic Development Council, Silver Award
- Hermes Creative Awards, Gold Award
- Agriculture Development and Marketing Professionals Annual Conference Calendar: Each year, agriculture development professionals from Maryland and Virginia meet to strategize at a centralized conference. Loudoun Economic Development lent its creative talents to the group, developing and producing a calendar that was widely distributed at the conference.
- MarCom Gold Award
Looking back at an award-winning year, it might be fair to ask, what’s next?
Already, our team has plans in motion to make 2020 the best year yet. We believe that’s #LoudounPossible.
To work with our award-winning staff, or to learn more about the #LoudounPossible business advantages, please email Business Development Officer Rick Morris or call 1-800-LOUDOUN.
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