Nominations Open for 2026 Economic Impact Awards in Grant County
In communities like Grant County, economic progress rarely happens by accident. It is built, project by project, hire by hire, investment by investment, by individuals and organizations willing to take risks, solve problems, and create opportunities where it didn’t exist before.
The Grant County Economic Growth Council is inviting the public to help recognize those efforts.
Nominations are officially open for the 2026 Economic Impact Appreciation Awards, a recognition of the people, businesses, and projects that have made a measurable positive impact on the local economy.
The call is broad by design.
“We know economic impact doesn’t come from just one sector,” Chuck Binkerd, executive director notes. “It shows up in manufacturing expansions, new small businesses, workforce training programs, redevelopment projects, and partnerships that strengthen entire countywide community.”
Recognizing Real, Measurable Impact
This awards ceremony will focus on activity that occurred between October 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025.
Nominations are encouraged across a wide range of contributions, including:
Job creation and employee retention
New business openings
Expansion of facilities, operations, or services
Capital investment in buildings, equipment, or infrastructure
Workforce development initiatives such as training programs and internships
Revitalization of underutilized properties
Community partnerships and local engagement efforts
Investment in housing and quality-of-place improvements
The intent is not simply to celebrate success, but to document it—clearly and credibly.
Open to Everyone, Including Self-Nominations
The Economic Impact Awards are intentionally accessible.
Nominations can be submitted for individuals, businesses, organizations, or specific projects. And importantly, self-nominations are welcome.
That approach reflects a practical understanding: those closest to the work often have the clearest view of its impact.
“We want to celebrate all the investment happening in our community and make sure everyone has the opportunity to be included and recognized,” Madi Dubovyi, program coordinator, emphasizes.
What the Nomination Requires
The nomination process is straightforward but substantive.
Nominators are asked to provide:
Basic contact information
Details about the nominee or project
A clear description of the economic impact
The role the nominee played in achieving that impact
Project timelines and, when possible, investment figures
There is also space to provide additional context, often where the broader story behind a project emerges.
That level of detail is intentional. The awards are designed to reflect verified progress, not just general recognition.
Why It Matters
For economic development organizations, recognition programs serve a larger purpose.
They create a documented record of growth. They highlight patterns: what is working, where investment is occurring, and how partnerships are forming. And they help tell a more complete story about a community’s trajectory.
In Grant County, that story is increasingly defined by collaboration across communities, industries, and profit and nonprofit organizations.
From downtown redevelopment efforts to workforce training initiatives, the common thread is coordination, and a growing willingness to invest locally.