The website for City of Kyle’s Economic Development department recently earned a Silver Excellence in Economic Development Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The website won in the category of General Purpose Website.
This honor was presented at an awards ceremony in late September during the IEDC Annual Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
In a time when a large percentage of site selection begins online, a clean, user-friendly website is necessary for any community looking to attract businesses.
“Most of the companies seeking to expand, relocate or build in Kyle first check our website,” according to Diana Blank-Torres, the Director of Kyle Economic Development. “We keep the information on the website useful and relevant to companies. That way, it’s a true representation of our attractive community.”
She added that her department contracted with EDsuite to help produce the website, which provides a community profile, facts and figures about Kyle, information on the tax structure along with local and state resources. Those include city demographics, school information and recreation and tourism opportunities.
“It’s really a one-stop shop for any business or company looking at opening shop in Kyle,” Blank-Torres said.
The top goal for the Economic Development department, Blank-Torres said, is to bring in employers who will offer high quality jobs for Kyle residents. The three main business targets are medical, high tech and destination.
In the business community, Blank-Torres said the Silver Excellence was an important win for Kyle’s Economic Development.
“We won this distinguished global award out of an international pool of all communities with populations between 20,000 and 200,000,” she said. “Kyle is extremely proud about winning a Silver Excellence award from IEDC.”
Michael Langley, the 2017 IEDC Board Chair, said the awards process is thorough, non-biased and multi-layered.
“Not only did they work to provide a necessary service to their community; but also, their participation in the awards program sheds light on their stellar projects which other communities can now use as a benchmark,” he said.
It was the first time Kyle’s Economic Development department submitted for the award.
Blank-Torres said she believes winning the Silver Excellence Award will benefit her department and its efforts to attract high quality employers.
“This award offers Kyle an opportunity to be visible to a much larger business community and may help open the door to companies where Kyle wasn’t on the radar,” she said. “An award from IEDC will create additional exposure on an international level.”
