E.D.D.I. Wins CT Quality Improvement Award Innovation Prize
07/26/2006
Contact:
Kristi Sullivan, 860-571-6213
E.D.D.I., an online database containing geographic and demographic data points about Connecticut and Western Massachusetts and their metros, counties and towns, has received a Silver 2006 Connecticut Quality Improvement Award (CQIA) Innovation Prize for its opportunity, innovation and results.
E.D.D.I., short for Economic Development Data and Information (www.cerc.com/eddi), is the first database of its kind in this region, and Connecticut and Western Massachusetts are the first states in the Northeast to deploy such a project. The Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC), in partnership with Northeast Utilities, developed E.D.D.I. in response to the lack of a centralized online database with readily available, easy-to-find state and local information - and the need to provide site selection consultants with better communication about the region's advantages for business and quality of life.
E.D.D.I. data is compliant with IEDC (International Economic Development Council) standards, which address site selector requirements for making location decisions, including labor force, wages, leading employers and business growth status. The project crosses town lines and state borders, promoting the idea of regionalism and incorporating a regional perspective to the site selection process. MetroHartford Alliance and the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council were pilot regions for the project.
"Connecticut and Western Massachusetts communities can use E.D.D.I. to market themselves to a global online audience, and economic development professionals find E.D.D.I. to be a helpful tool in their efforts to attract and develop businesses in Connecticut, which create jobs and grow the economy," said Marty Hunt, president and CEO of CERC.
E.D.D.I. is based on a web database called LOIS - Location One Information System - which also houses data and information web sites for states such as Iowa, Missouri and others. From September through December of 2005, Connecticut received the highest number of visits of any LocationOne.com member states/organizations. Since its launch in April 2005, Connecticut's database has consistently ranked in the top four most visited states, and the MetroHartford Alliance averages a ranking of the fifth most visited profile.
"It is inspiring to see the continuing large number of organizations - both large and small; public, private, government, health care, education and not-for-profits - driven by innovation and performance excellence that reach for third party endorsement for their products and services from the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award's Innovation Prize," says Sheila Carmine, founder and executive director of the 19-year-old CQIA Partnership.
The entry-level CQIA Innovation Prize is broadly based on the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award for Performance Excellence's three principles of: approach, deployment and results. Award applications were judged by 18 CQIA examiners who read, ranked and met for consensus before determining the platinum, gold and silver winning levels. The award recipients will be formally recognized at the 19th annual Conference on Quality and Innovation on October 20th. For more information, visit www.ctqualityaward.org or contact 203-322-9534.