Purdue Research Foundation receives economic development awards from international organization

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  –– Purdue Research Foundation received three marketing awards from the International Economic Development Council at its annual Excellence in Economic Development Awards program during the organization’s annual conference held Sept. 26-28 in Cleveland.

“These awards are yet another example of Purdue’s ongoing commitment to excellence,” said Dan Hasler, Purdue Research Foundation president. “It’s also a testament to the level of economic development and commercialization going on within Purdue and the Greater Lafayette community. With the creation of the Purdue Research Park Aerospace District in 2015 and the Purdue Innovation District earlier this year, we anticipate even greater things to come.”

The foundation received marketing awards in the 200,000 population category for:

* 2016 Purdue Research Park Aerospace District Brochure, silver award, General Purpose Print Brochure.

* Purdue Startup Class of 2015, silver award, Paid Advertising Campaign.

* 2016 Purdue Foundry Startup Fund Brochure, bronze award, Special Purpose Print Brochure.

The judging criteria used for the awards includes strategic goals of the project; effectiveness of the promotion; innovation and creativity; quality and completeness of information; and contribution to economic development.

“Not only did Purdue Research Foundation 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,” said Barry Matherly 2016 board chair, president and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership.

In 2015, Purdue Research Foundation announced the creation of the 980-acre Purdue Research Park Aerospace District to be adjacent to the Purdue University Airport. The district is designed to draw aerospace companies to collaborate with Purdue to build research and development facilities.

A 55,000-square-foot facility to house the Rolls-Royce research and development group in addition to other companies interested in in aerospace and aviation development is under construction in the aerospace district.

In June, Purdue Research Foundation and Browning Investments LLC announced a partnership to create the Purdue Innovation District on approximately 450 acres at the west end of the Purdue campus. Eventual plans call for student housing; non-student residential; hospitality; lab, research and other collaborative spaces; office; discovery and entrepreneurial spaces; retail; public spaces; and aerospace industry-focused research, advanced manufacturing and light industrial space.

About the International Economic Development Council

The International Economic Development Council is a nonprofit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,700 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. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members are engaged in the full range of economic development experience. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in a wide variety of settings including local, state, provincial and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities and a variety of other institutions. IEDC’s members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve the quality of life in their regions. www.iedconline.org

About Purdue Research Foundation

The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue's intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park and Purdue Technology Centers. The foundation received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year from the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org

Writer: Curt Slyder, 765-588-3342, caslyder@prf.org

Sources:   Dan Hasler, 765-588-3475, djhasler@prf.org

Taylor Thornberg, 202-545-7334, tthornberg@iedconline.org