SE Valley Times

Mesa Mayor John Giles received the Leadership Award for Public Service for excellence in economic development from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and he will be honored at the IEDC 2023 Annual Conference in Dallas on Sept. 19.

"We are thrilled to announce Mayor John Giles as the distinguished recipient of the 2023 Leadership Award for Public Service for excellence in economic development. Mayor Giles’ dedication and innovative approach has paved the way for transformative change, creating a ripple effect that will continue to shape the future of economic development,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. “Visionaries like Mayor Giles set a remarkable example that inspires us all. Mayor Giles’ unwavering commitment to excellence in economic development is inspiring, and it is with great pride and admiration that we will present this prestigious award at this year’s Annual Conference in Dallas. Congratulations, Mayor Giles!”

Every year IEDC looks specifically for an individual who has demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that significantly impact revitalizing communities and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development.

“Our City has a lot to be proud of, especially regarding economic growth,” said Mayor Giles. “Mesa is one of the best places in the country for businesses to locate, grow and expand, and I appreciate our economic development team and the entire City of Mesa staff for their commitment to our community. I am honored to be recognized with this award.”

John Giles is the 40th mayor of Mesa, first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2016 and 2020. Giles oversees a growing economy that has added tens of thousands of new jobs, over $8 billion in capital investment and employers like Apple, Amazon, Google and Meta.

Under his leadership, the City of Mesa adopted a nondiscrimination ordinance, implemented a climate action plan, and established the Mesa College Promise, which connects qualified high school graduates with free community college education.

Giles is Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Immigration Task Force, Co-Chair of Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment, and is the only mayor appointed to the national Electric Vehicle Working Group. 

About the City of Mesa

With a population of more than 517,000, Mesa, Arizona is the 36th largest city in the United States and second largest in the Phoenix-Mesa metro area. Mesa encompasses 138 square miles inside the metro area, which has a population of 5 million people and is projected to grow to 5.2 million by 2028. Mesa is a vibrant city and a premier location for business development opportunities. Serving industry leaders such as Amazon, Apple, AT&T, Banner Health, Boeing, Bridgestone, Dexcom, Facebook (Meta), Google, Gulfstream, Northrop Grumman, Virgin Galactic and many more, Mesa is a smart location for intelligent companies. SelectMesa.com

About the International Economic Development Council

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,300 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban and local to international, IEDC’s members engage in the full range of economic development practices. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial and federal governments; public-private partnerships; chambers of commerce; universities and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve the quality of life in their regions. iedconline.org.

Original source can be found here.