Goodyear, AZ Economic Development

^{_{Pictured left to right: Kendra Hoffman, Wendy Bridges, Nicole Blanar}}

City of Goodyear Named 2026 Economic Development Organization of the Year (Medium)

This marks the third time Goodyear Economic Development has received this honor

The city of Goodyear Economic Development Team was recently honored with the 2026 Economic Development Organization of the Year (Medium) award by the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED). Goodyear has previously received this award in 2019 and 2024.

The award is part of AAED’s Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards, established nearly 50 years ago to recognize outstanding contributions to the economic development profession. Awards were presented at the association’s annual conference last week.

The Economic Development Organization of the Year award recognizes organizations that make meaningful contributions to advancing AAED’s mission through leadership, engagement, and service. The Medium category includes communities with populations between 50,000 and 149,999.

Goodyear’s Economic Development team demonstrated a strong and sustained commitment to the profession through active involvement across AAED. Many of the team members serve on AAED committees, contributing to government affairs, emerging leadership initiatives, and organizational strategy. The team also prioritizes professional growth, with nearly all staff either holding or actively pursuing advanced economic development certifications, including AZED Pro and Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designations.

The Economic Development Team regularly contributes as speakers, instructors, and subject matter experts at industry courses and conferences. Most recently, Economic Development Director Wendy Bridges served as a judge for AAED’s 2026 Basic Economic Development Course, a foundational program for professionals entering the field. In 2025, the city of Goodyear also hosted the multi-day course at city hall, welcoming participants from across the country.

“This is an incredible honor for our economic development team,” said Bridges. “It reflects the dedication of our staff and the support of city leadership in advancing thoughtful, strategic growth. We are proud to contribute to the profession and to support opportunities for businesses and residents in Goodyear.”

Beyond industry engagement, Goodyear extends its commitment to economic development through initiatives like the city’s InnovationHub, which is now in its twelfth year. The program has supported more than 8,000 entrepreneurs by providing free workspace, workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities, bringing the principles of collaboration and education directly into the local business community.