Town of Pulaski Accepts CEDA Award

The Town of Pulaski was presented with the 2019 Community Economic Development Award (CEDA) from the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) at its annual meeting.

The CEDA program recognizes outstanding communities for their efforts in advancing the economic viability of their community through economic and community development programs. The CEDA awards are given to one community from five population categories. In March, the Town of Pulaski received the Virginia Community Economic Development Award for a community with 5,001-15,000 residents.

SEDC states: "We have members in 17 states in the American South, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia." With such a large pool of candidates for the reception of this award, the Town of Pulaski is truly humbled by the recognition of our recent efforts in improving our locality.

The SEDC states on their application that they recognize exceptional contributions of communities in their region for multiple efforts, including business retention and expansion, business recruitment, community development and community involvement. The Town of Pulaski used creative grants to turn blighted buildings into places of business with new jobs and investment. Since 2008, Pulaski's efforts resulted in 10 new companies moving into the town, more than $10 million in capital investment and the creation of about 100 jobs. Revenues from meals tax went up 40 percent and lodging tax collections increased 400 percent. Based on these efforts, the Town of Pulaski was the locality selected for this illustrious award in their population category.

New initiatives are constantly being implemented within the Town to further boost its attractiveness to investors and companies on the lookout for the next big thing. As these initiatives continue to progress, the Town of Pulaski looks forward to becoming a booming hub of commerce and trade within the New River Valley. We are honored to have been selected bythe SEDC in this decision, and look forward to maintaining our vision for our community in the future.

The Town of Pulaski has been striving to become a prominent location in the New River Valley, whether that be through providing residents and visitors with a robust array of shopping locations, activities and events, or by affording businesses lucrative opportunities to expand and thrive. As these avenues of prosperity develop, the Town of Pulaski will continue to be a shining example of commitment and promise.