Invest Ottawa Receives Four Bronze Awards for Excellence in Economic Development from the International Economic Development Council for 2025

On August 21, 2025, Invest Ottawa announced its achievement of four Bronze Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the world’s largest organization for economic developers. This recognition is particularly significant as it marks Invest Ottawa's first entry into the IEDC's esteemed awards program. The awards commend initiatives in strategic marketing, talent attraction, and investment promotion, which have positioned Ottawa as a competitive tech hub and a favored choice for business expansion and skilled talent acquisition.

The IEDC Excellence Awards celebrate organizations and initiatives that exhibit consistent exemplary performance in economic development, revitalizing communities, and advancing the field. Jens-Michael Schaal, Vice President of Global Expansion at Invest Ottawa, will accept the awards during the IEDC Annual Conference in Detroit, Michigan, scheduled for September 14-17, 2025. Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO, endorsed Invest Ottawa, highlighting its leadership in economic development and commitment to community impact.

Sonya Shorey, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa, praised the accolades, noting that they reflect the creativity, dedication, and global influence of her team and community. She emphasized that this recognition underlines Ottawa's status as a thriving technology hub and the collaborative spirit that characterizes the city’s growth initiatives.

Details of Award-Winning Projects:

1. Global Runway Brochure: A multilingual marketing tool for Invest Ottawa’s soft-landing program, guiding international companies on expanding into North America via Ottawa. This brochure is pivotal for trade missions and foreign direct investment outreach.

2. Why Ottawa Factsheet: A visually rich, four-page document showcasing Ottawa's key business, technology, and talent statistics, utilized during investor meetings and global marketing campaigns to promote the city as a tech ecosystem.

3. Global Talent Attraction LinkedIn Campaign: A successful three-month campaign that resulted in over 1,100 high-quality global talent leads, reaching more than 500,000 impressions, effectively linking Ottawa's tech employers with global talent.

4. “10 Ottawa Companies Hiring” Blog Series: Ongoing since 2021, this monthly digital initiative highlights job openings in Ottawa's tech sector, becoming a trusted resource for skilled professionals seeking opportunities in the area.

Why Choose Ottawa?
Ottawa, Canada’s capital, boasts over 1,800 knowledge-based companies and shares the highest concentration of tech talent in North America, alongside the San Francisco Bay Area. As one of the most educated and cost-effective cities, it offers businesses access to top-tier research institutions, a collaborative ecosystem, and pathways to U.S. and global markets. The city is recognized for a high quality of life, a strong bilingual workforce, and significant leadership in sectors such as aerospace, cybersecurity, applied AI, telecommunications, and semiconductor industries.

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) serves as a non-profit, non-partisan organization supporting economic developers worldwide. With thousands of members, IEDC's mission encompasses enhancing economic well-being through job creation, retention, and growth that uplifts community wealth and provides a stable tax base. Members range from local and state governments to chambers of commerce and universities, all working towards creating vibrant communities and improving quality of life.

For further information, refer to Invest Ottawa and IEDC.