MANASSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WINS AWARDS FOR 2020 ANNUAL REPORT AND FOR ELEVATE PROGRAM
Director Patrick Small Accepted Two IEDC Awards in Nashville, TN
Manassas, VA — October 5, 2021 — The City of Manassas Department of Economic Development won Gold and Silver awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Manassas received the Gold Award, IEDC’s highest honor, for the City’s 2020 Annual Report as well as a shared Silver Award for the ELEVATE program, an innovative workforce development program and partnership using federal CARES Act funds. Manassas Economic Development Director, Patrick J. Small, accepted the awards today at the IEDC 2021 Annual Conference in Nashville, TN.
The Gold Award is the first for Manassas’s Economic Development Department in the Annual Report Category. The report details the City’s multifaceted response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including four small business grant programs, the ELEVATE workforce training program, and employer assistance efforts. It also includes the continued investment in the City by private industry, highlighted by expansions at High Purity Systems manufacturing facility and Chantilly Air’s new aircraft hangar, as well as the continuation of Micron’s historic expansion in Manassas.
IEDC’s recognition of the City’s Economic Development 2020 Annual Report reflects the compelling story of resilience among the Manassas business community and the ability of the City to continue to attract high-wage, private-sector jobs despite the challenges faced this past year.
The City of Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William County and program delivery partner, SkillSource Group Inc., also received a Silver Award for their collaborative ELEVATE workforce development program. Under ELEVATE, the City and its counterparts invested over $1.9 million in CARES Act funds to provide free training and support services for City residents while also helping employers train incumbent workers and identify the best new hires.
In total, more than 230 job seekers enrolled in critical training programs. Thanks to ELEVATE and the City’s ongoing economic development initiatives, Manassas’s unemployment rate fell to 3.6 percent this September after hitting decade highs of almost 11 percent during the onset of the pandemic.
“I am honored by the recognition of our City and our Economic Development Department for its performance during some very challenging times,” said Mr. Small. “We are proud of these awards that reflect the hard work of our team and dedication to creating a community where our businesses and residents thrive.”
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 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.