Glendale Awarded 2026 Economic Development Organization Of The Year

Published on April 22, 2026

Glendale honored for leadership in economic growth and business support

The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) honored the City of Glendale with the prestigious Economic Development Organization of the Year (Large) award. The Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards were established nearly 50 years ago to recognize the outstanding work of AAED members and were presented at the annual Spring Conference, held in Tucson, Arizona. 

The Economic Development Organization of the Year award recognizes outstanding contributions that strengthen AAED's efforts. The Large category is defined as a service area with a population exceeding 150,000. 

The City of Glendale Economic Development Team has demonstrated a deep, sustained commitment to AAED through staff involvement at every level of the organization. Three team members completed the 2026 AAED Basic Academy, five hold the AZED Pro designation (two of whom earned it in 2025), and two team members participated in the AAED Mentor/Mentee Program in the past year.

At the leadership level, Cutter Chamberlain serves on the AAED Board of Directors and the 2026 Spring Conference Committee; KC Shuck serves on the Emerging Leaders and Workforce Committees; and Jose Contreras serves on the Emerging Leaders and Government Affairs Committees — and was himself named AAED's 2025 Emerging Economic Development Professional of the Year.  

Glendale has further been recognized externally as both a Best City to Do Business and a Best Place to Work, honors that reflect the same values of leadership and innovation that AAED champions statewide. 

“Glendale continues to grow every day and strives to be business friendly across our entire city,” said Glendale Mayor Jerry P. Weiers. “Our focus is on creating economic prosperity for all our residents, and that commitment guides every decision we make.”

This is the City of Glendale’s first EDDE Award.