The Ohio Economic Development Association  (OEDA) presented its 2026 Annual Excellence Awards today at the OEDA Annual Summit in  Dayton, honoring the people, projects, and organizations driving growth in communities across  Ohio. 

Nominations were reviewed and scored in seven categories, with 47 statewide nominations submitted. The top-scoring nominee in each category received the Award of Excellence, and the runners-up received Awards of Merit. 

2026 OEDA Excellence Award Recipients 

Economic Developer of the Year 

Award of Excellence: Chase Eikenbary, Regional Growth Partnership 

Awards of Merit: Ashley Epling, Williams County Economic Development Corporation  (WEDCO), and Julia Suggs, Area Development Foundation of Knox County 

Local Champion of the Year 

Award of Excellence: Jason Duff, Small Nation 

Awards of Merit: Mark Ramser, Ohio Cumberland Gas, and Stephanie Summerow Dumas,  Hamilton County Board of Commissioners 

Rookie of the Year 

Award of Excellence: Jason Maageria, JobsOhio 

Project of the Year 

Award of Excellence: The Hillman Group / Forest Fair Mall Demolition (City of Forest Park)

Awards of Merit: First Quality Mega Site (Defiance County and partners) and Heartland Commerce Park, the Knox County Land Bank and the Knox County Area Development Foundation.

Excellence in Place-Based Development 

Award of Excellence: Factory 52 (Alloy Development) 

Awards of Merit: Sedamsville Neighborhood Revitalization (Port of Greater Cincinnati  Development Authority) and Cincinnati Convention District Redevelopment (3CDC) 

Excellence in Workforce Development 

Award of Excellence: TEAM Tuscarawas (Tuscarawas County Economic Development  Corporation) 

Awards of Merit: PORTS Recruitment and Career Center (Workforce Development Board Area  1) and Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition (AOMC) 

Excellence in Marketing and Communications 

Award of Excellence: Wayne Economic Development Council 

Awards of Merit: Small Nation – Union County Mailers and Zanesville-Muskingum County Port  Authority 

“Every one of this year’s honorees is proof that economic development is a team sport,” said David Zak, President & CEO of OEDA. “Behind each project, program, and career we recognized today are partners who stayed at the table and communities that are stronger for it.  We’re proud to celebrate their work in front of the peers who know best how hard it is to do.”