Tim Kanavel, economic development manager for Pinal County, is the recipient of the Arizona Association for Economic Development’s (AAED) annual Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Award for Economic Developer of the Year, Small Community.
The prestigious EDDE Awards honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the advancement of the organization and also to the economic growth within the state of Arizona. Recipients are selected from a pool of nominations made by members of AAED.
Kanavel was recognized for his outstanding achievement in economic development, its overall economic impact to the community and his active role within AAED for supporting its organizational pillars of education, advocacy and collaboration. Specifically, Kanavel was honored for:
- His involvement in 15 projects representing more than $2.5 billion in capital investment with the potential creation of more than 15,000 new jobs with companies such as: Attesa Motorsports Complex, Lucid Motors, Case New Holland Research and Development Center, Severston Movie Screens, Natural Gas Storage and Applegate Insulation.
- His work with Pinal County, city of Casa Grande, Arizona @Work, Pinal County; and Central Arizona College to create a regional training facility to support the existing manufacturing and logistics companies, as well as help meet the needs of potential future companies.
- His tireless educational outreach, including 14 speaking engagements both within and outside of Pinal County, his support and involvement with Arizona @ Work, Pinal County’s job fairs and the grand opening of the county’s new Workforce Development facility in Casa Grande.
Overall, eight EDDEs were presented during an evening awards dinner at the AAED Spring Conference in Lake Havasu City. The other winners are:
- Tom Pitts, an economic development consultant in Yavapai County, Member of the Year.
- Mitchel Allen, vice president, business development, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Economic Developer of the Year, Large Community.
- Salt River Project, Large Organization of the Year.
- Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation, Sierra Vista, Small Organization of the Year.
- Deeidra Skipton of Goodwill Industries of Central and Northern Arizona, Workforce Practitioner of the Year.
- Cori Garcia, economic development administrator for the Gilbert Office of Economic Development, New Member of the Year.
- Bruce A. Wright, associate vice president for Tech Parks Arizona at the University of Arizona, AAED Best of Arizona Award.
AAED, founded in 1974, has a mission to serve as Arizona’s unified voice advocating for responsible economic development through an effective program of professional education, public policy and collaboration.
For more information on AAED, visit www.aaed.com or call (60