Pasadena City Hall on a sunny day (Photo – Colorado Boulevard Newspaper)
The City of Pasadena’s Economic Development Division has received a 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council for its work in the paid advertising campaign category.
By News Desk
The division will be honored during the IEDC’s 2026 Annual Conference, scheduled for Oct. 25–28 in New Orleans.
The award recognizes Pasadena’s “Deep Tech: Create Futures, Not Fads” campaign, which highlights innovative technologies being developed in the city.
“The City of Pasadena is leading the field of excellence in economic development with its ‘Deep Tech: Create Futures, Not Fads’ campaign,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC president and CEO. “This award shines a spotlight on Pasadena’s commitment to its community and showcases the significant impact of economic development.”
David Klug, Pasadena’s economic development director, said the city was honored to receive the award and credited Pasadena-based marketing agency Echo Factory with helping develop the campaign’s creative assets.
The campaign showcases Pasadena companies and innovators working on technologies that could restore sight, develop robotic arms for Mars exploration and advance quantum computing.
“We know the incredible things happening here in Pasadena,” Klug said. “This campaign gave us an opportunity to bring that work into the spotlight and share with the world what Pasadena’s innovators are building right here at home.”
Each year, the IEDC honors economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives and programs that demonstrate excellence in the field. The recognized programs are credited with revitalizing communities and advancing economic development practices.
This year’s awards also mark the IEDC’s 100th anniversary. The organization said the anniversary provides an opportunity to celebrate successful programs and highlight efforts that can help shape the next century of economic development.
The City of Pasadena’s Economic Development Division supports business growth and job creation across the region, emphasizing innovation and collaboration within the business community.
Based in Washington, D.C., the IEDC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization representing the economic development profession. Its members include economic development practitioners in government, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, utilities, universities and other organizations.
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