The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians recently became the first entity in Mississippi to earn the credential of Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO). This certification is awarded by the International Economic Development Council and is given to organizations that have undergone a rigorous accreditation process to demonstrate their commitment to excellence in the field of economic development.
“The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Office of Economic Development displays the professionalism, commitment, and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle.
The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer review process that measures economic development organizations against commonly held standards in the profession. The program consists of two phases: a documentation review and an onsite visit. Each phase is designed to evaluate information about the structure, organization, funding, programs, and staff of the candidate economic development organization. The MBCI is the only entity in Mississippi that has received the AEDO designation and the second Tribal organization to achieve the credential.
“This is an honor for our Tribe, and a sign of our continued mission to advance Tribal self-determination and the prosperity and self-sufficiency of tribal members by fostering economic growth, cultivating career opportunities, and generating revenue that sustains vital Tribal government services,” said MBCI Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben.
The International Economic Development Council is the largest membership association serving economic and community development professionals in the world. Learn more at their website at www.iedconline.org.